It's been marketed in English as both titles. "Bicycle Thieves" in a way is a better translation given the plot and that one shot near the end with the sea of bicycles.

Also, I've forgotten a lot of the film, but I love the middle part where the main character and his son are walking around looking for the bicycle and are just enjoying the city and have a moment's respite from the overarching problem of the missing bicycle.

Pretty sure OZ knows, this is just riot-starting fuckery. fwiw, The Bicycle Thief is a far better title and actually makes the film better. People who disagree are dumb and eat lice. In order of dumbness to smartness it goes: People who think Bicycle Thieves is a better name because translation blah blah shut up -> People who wisely consider The Bicycle Thief to be a better name -> People who don't care either way and want you leave them alone.

That's my favourite scene as well, Ranma. The father treats the kid to some ice cream or something (it's been a while since I saw it). I grew up in poverty and that scene really hit me.

The version I watched was called "Bicycle thieves" So I guess I just call it that.

Great choice but the title is Ladri di biciclette

The Searchers

Umberto D. has a similar effect on me (also by De Sica)

Perhaps its this...
The elements themselves (acting, cinematography etc.) are not *flashy* precisely because they are all working in service of the film as a whole. They dont draw particular attention to themselves so they dont take away from your general immersion. The film is so immersive and seamless that it enables you to become highly involved in this simple story about a man, his son and his bicycle.