NYPD Putting the Brakes on Illegal Bike Rentals

High demand from tourists near Central Park has attracted unlicensed bike rental vendors in NYC. Competition is getting tougher as police crack down on the booming business.

1 minute read

September 30, 2009, 7:00 AM PDT

By Alek Miller

"Joel Johnson, 31, who began renting bikes two months ago after losing his restaurant job, agreed that the exploding market for rentals over the summer had attracted a lot of competitors. 'There are at least 20 people who do it,' he said. Mr. Johnson was one of that number, with a stable of 10 bikes, until recently. Six were rented and never returned, and the police took the remaining four. He has been to court three times, but he said the judge had let him off each time."

FULL STORY: Police Crack Down on Illicit Bike Rental Operations

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 in The New York Times

Transportation New York Tourism New York City Bicycling

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