NYPD Putting the Brakes on Illegal Bike Rentals

"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."