I never bothered learning to ride a bike in my childhood. Instead, I started at the age of 33 - and it has been a wonderful adventure ever since.

As someone who has also never owned a car (let alone a driver's license) due to being in a rather urban environment and having limited economic means, the humble bicycle has been to me many things:

• augmented efficiency of travel by expending calories (compared to walking)
• opportunity to experience the city in a different and immersive way
• increased enjoyment of pleasant weather
• effective motivator to exercise
• aerobic activity with minimal impact to joints
• exhilaration in speeding downhill
• satisfaction in conquering hills
• alternative (and sometimes complement) to public transit
• greater sense of freedom
• way of connecting with others
• did I mention this is fun?

I learned all this within the first week of teaching myself (consulting the web to fill gaps in my understanding) the basics of riding. :)