There surely has been books written to satisfy the question you are posing. I share the same reasons as others, a few of which is admiring the bicycle as an elegant and tremendously economical form of transportation. Health benefits abound and it still remains by far the most energy efficient form of transportation there is. You absorb your surroundings differently by bike than being carried around in a climate controlled steel box. There are so many worthwhile venues and sights I never paid attention to (or couldn't!) in a car that is achievable by bike. Beijing was once known as the "city of bicycles", now 50k people a year there die of lung disease from the pollution generated by all the neo-middle class automotive drivers on the road.