Spoked wheels are designed for high rigidity in the direction right angle to the axle. Car bumpers are designed to crumple on impact.
But it doesn't take much of a tap in any other direction to warp a bike wheel beyond repair.
I tee-boned a car that pulled out in front of my while doing about 40km/hr on my pushie. My front wheel knocked the car front wheel out of alignment, and mine just needed some retensioning of the spokes. The back rim had to be replaced, because when I hit the car, the back wheel lifted, and didn't land straight.
