I never owned a bicycle as child, nor for most of my adult life. Urban poor, there was not much money for bikes, and my mother didn't want us riding in the streets. (i got caught roller skating in the roadway, hanging on to the tail gate of truck once... the skating was fine, but i couldn't sit for a week.)

my kids grew up in the eastern extreme edge of Queens, and they had bikes. My son, when in college, biked to and from his off campus apartment. He still bikes from SF to Oakland--(or rather takes his fold up bike on the BART to the closest station and bikes from there to work.

I know how to ride a bike, but don't currently own a bike (i have thought of buying one). Like anything else, its a habit... one i never developed.

my other obsession