The illegal bike hawkers that have been duping tourists into renting stolen bikes in Columbus Circle have waged war on the only legitimate bike rental company, violently harassing its workers.
Bike and Roll New York City, the only contractor sanctioned by the city to rent out bikes in Central Park, told the Post that the illegal hawkers are so vicious that they have threatened to decapitate their
employees.
“They’ve made threats to follow our staff home, to cut them, to cut their heads off. To hurt them,” said marketing manager Nicole Mylonas. In the past month, staff members have had to call the police at least
20 times on the unruly bike hucksters.
Bike and Roll has even had to put up one worker in a hotel — where he’s been staying for more than a week — after vendors threatened to kill him and then showed up in his neighborhood.
The illegal vendors also circulated his photo around to the other shady bike renters. Since then, the worker has been too terrified to return home.
The harassment has gotten so bad that Bike and Roll has spent $100,000 on security guards to protect their staff.
“They show pictures of knives, or show pictures of them on a shooting range and say, ‘this is what’s going to happen to you’,” said Chris Wogas, the company’s president.
On a warm day, there can be as many as 50 illegal vendors menacing workers and tourists, employees said.
Sometimes they even steal bikes from Bike and Roll and try to rent those illegally, Wogas added.
Last year, the Parks Department did an informal survey on how much business Bike and Roll is losing to the illegal vendors — and it estimated they lost $500,000 a year, according to Wogas.
Virtually every person who goes through the area is asked to rent a bike by a mob of illegal vendors. The vendors harass — whether they work for Bike and Roll, are dressed in a suit, or even have their own
bike.
The illegal sellers often create disorder in Columbus Circle by fighting and cursing among each other for business.
“It’s awkward and uncomfortable,” said Yvonne Norton, 51, a tourist from Canada who didn’t want to rent a bike from the group. “I understand people have to make a living, but no should mean no.”
One man trying to rent out a bike told a Post reporter that money for bike rentals will be used to help people in West Africa.
“My company is to help the poor,” he said, flashing a laminated card with a picture of a horse carriage, pedicab and bicycle.
Tourists told the Post the aggressive vendors take away from the city’s friendly vibe.
“You’re taking away from what makes the city great, the camaraderie,” said Cathie Smythe, 50, also of Canada.