COVID NIMBYs Shame NYC Man for Renting Out Peloton Bike While Gyms Are Closing

In early December, a resident of New York City we’ll call J had what he thought was a good idea. With Mayor Bill de Blasio threatening to shut down gyms (again), the Upper West Side apartment dweller placed an ad on Nextdoor.com, the hyperlocal social networking site where people can swap goods and information. 

“Hello all,” the ad read. “I recently purchased a Peloton to keep in the office/gym of my apartment.” J and his girlfriend used the exercise bike, which streams video workouts, “5-10 times a week combined,” which left plenty of time for others to rent it “a couple of times a week at pre-agreed upon times for a fee of $50 per month. This is a great deal.” 

 J saw no downside to the arrangement. A self-employed fitness trainer whose livelihood had taken a hit during COVID-19, renting the Peloton would put some money in his pocket and, considering a gym membership at a Manhattan Equinox can run $260 per month, help others save money too. It also sidestepped the ongoing capriciousness (some say cluelessness) by officials that had left New Yorkers not knowing from week to week whether they’d be able to work out or eat out or send their kids to school.

J thought his offer, to let people into his home and use his equipment, was straightforward, even generous. His neighbors, not so much. 

 “I think ‘great deal’ is a stretch,” wrote someone from West 72nd Street. “If you finance the bike itself it’s $50/month.”

“Yes, I have a Peloton too and it’s $40/month,” added West 58th. “If you have a Chase credit card, they even automatically reimburse you monthly if you pay with your card.” 

“The $50/mo. wouldn’t cover 10 min of a civil defense attorney worth their weight in salt… the penalties for infringing IP are steep,” wrote West 67th, and included a link to Peloton’s terms of service and its 27 sections of restrictions.

Appa