Central Park Bike Tours and Rentals on 58th Street gets many of its customers from nearby hotels and from the Web. Now the shop has a new source of revenue: the NYPD.
As police crackdown on illegal bicycle rentals near Central Park, Columbus Circle and Broadway, licensed distributors are picking up extra business.
"Two weeks ago we had a couple come in to rent bikes because the cops had shown up just as they were about to rent illegal ones," said Tiffany Babilonia, 27, the manager of Central Park Bike Tours and Rentals. "The cops told the people to come to us."
Babilonia says they've seen an increase in walk-in traffic in recent weeks due to the crackdown on illegal bicycle renters. The unliscensed vendors are all over Midtown, and often hold signs reading "bike rentals" as they offer rides on bicycles that are frequently left chained up on city sidewalks.
Since August, the NYPD has arrested a dozen vendors, ticketed 25 others and confiscated 73 bikes after receiving complaints about sidewalk vendors renting without helmets and leaving bikes chained to light poles and scaffolding.
"You would see them chained to every imaginable location," said Monica Blum, president of Lincoln Square Business Improvement District. "Light poles, DOT poles, scaffolding. Everything that would accept a chain. It's hard to walk because they're running bike repairs on the sidewalks."
Blum says her group recieved many complaints about the clutter, but says they're in favor of biking.
"We think it's great. We just want to see it done safely and legally," she said.
But Ruslam, a vendor who didn't want to give his last name for fear of attracting police attention, argues there's enough demand for bikes for everyone to profit.
Ruslam rents bikes from the sidewalk on Sixth Avenue, between 58th Street and Central Park South. The 28-year-old has had four bicycles confiscated by police this summer and several friends have been locked-up.
"All the guys here, they're nice guys, they don't do anything bad," he said. "They smile for the customers. They do a good service. The customer is always happy."
Many rogue renters offer prices better than the legitimate shops.
"One hour is $15 and after that we do $5 an hour," Ruslam said. "But it's all negotiable. We do a lot of discounts these days."
Babilonia says her company's fixed rate is $20 an hour and $30 for two. They also offer helmets, locks, maps and a safe place to leave belongings.
"We also go to them in the park if they have a problem," she added. "We’ll go to them to exchange the bike or fix a flat."
Back on 58th Street, as he repaired a flat on one of his rentals, Ruslam admitted he can't offer those same services. But still, he said, there should be a way for everyone to rent.
"I just wish we could find a way so we're happy, the cops are happy and the customers are happy," he said.
