Two anecdotes, plenty of European cities aren't as fortunate, specially in southern countries.

Many cities are only city in name, and in practice more towns aspiring to be cities, specially in southern and eastern Europe.

Here is one anecdote, Portalegre might be a nice city, as Northen Alentejo capital in Portugal, yet those 20 km on average from the neighbouring villages aren't that nice to do on bycicle specially during Summertime with temperatures up to 45 degrees celsius. And if you're thinking about taking a bus, better save money for a taxi, unless you're willing to spend the whole day in the city, as there is only one bus into each direction connecting the neighbouring villages to the city.