If you mean to ask does globalization exist, of course.
Given that globalization exists, bicycles are the winner in this context as well because there are many more manufacturers and bikes are orders of magnitude less complex (thus fewer components to import). Unlike cars which are complex enough to have components that are big and/or heavy shipped all over the globe. Bicycles are made on your continent with minimal shipping weight. The simplicity of bikes also means fewer components that can break.
The most significant problem with bicycles is the Chinese are making copious bikes with non-standard low-quality components not built to last. Cheap Chinese-made bikes have a shorter lifetime than others and the components have compatibility problems so the whole bike gets scrapped.
These issues are not inherent in bicycles themselves. Buy a sustainable domestically made bike with standard parts, not a cheap €100 Chinese import.
This answer would vary for every warehouse-retail shop pair. I pulled my current bike out of the trash and restored it. My previous one was designed locally in my city & manufactured in Poland. Likely shipped by rail.
Unlike cars, there are both imperfect solutions and perfect (or near perfect) solutions among your choices of bicycles. Don’t import one from another continent. If you want perfect you have the option of living in the same city as a bicycle factory.
If you mean to ask does globalization exist, of course.
Given that globalization exists, bicycles are the winner in this context as well because there are many more manufacturers and bikes are orders of magnitude less complex (thus fewer components to import). Unlike cars which are complex enough to have components that are big and/or heavy shipped all over the globe. Bicycles are made on your continent with minimal shipping weight. The simplicity of bikes also means fewer components that can break.
The most significant problem with bicycles is the Chinese are making copious bikes with non-standard low-quality components not built to last. Cheap Chinese-made bikes have a shorter lifetime than others and the components have compatibility problems so the whole bike gets scrapped.
These issues are not inherent in bicycles themselves. Buy a sustainable domestically made bike with standard parts, not a cheap €100 Chinese import.
How are those bikes being transported? Hundreds of miles on the back of other bikes?
This answer would vary for every warehouse-retail shop pair. I pulled my current bike out of the trash and restored it. My previous one was designed locally in my city & manufactured in Poland. Likely shipped by rail.
Sounds like a non-perfect solution then.
Unlike cars, there are both imperfect solutions and perfect (or near perfect) solutions among your choices of bicycles. Don’t import one from another continent. If you want perfect you have the option of living in the same city as a bicycle factory.