Il Ciclista Dolce: Michael Musto
Village Voice entertainment columnist Michael Musto has been riding a bike in New York City for over 25 years, long before it was fashionable or there were bike lanes and cycletracks.
Musto, who has never had a driver's license, says the bicycle is an advantage in his profession. And although he has had many bikes stolen over that time period (he recommends newbies buy a used, cheap bike to get about) he has nothing but positivity and praise for the velocipede:
"I go everywhere on my bicycle. I go to work. I'll go to my screenings, my Broadway shows, my nightclubs - and I'll ride it for recreation too, to Central Park....there's no downside that I can think of."
Incidentally, this is my second interview with Musto. The first came in 1999, when I was a volunteer at Transportation Alternatives. Musto was TA magazine's Cyclist of the Month, a feature I got to write! I guess that means sometime in 2021 we'll be shooting something in 3D or whatever....