I lived on and off in Moscow from 91 to 96. I bought this cruiser type Russian bike, kinda like a heavier version of a Schwinn racer. It was fun to ride it, but like you said I was like the only one in the entire city riding a bicycle. They do like bikes but use them mostly at their cottages outside Moscow,
So they looked at me like crazzy riding on the sidewalks, you couldnt ride in the streets in Moscow cars would not yield for a bicycle, no way lol.
I have heard that now their is a small bicycle culture that has emerged in the last few years.