Bengaluru commuters and bike taxi riders disheartened as Karnataka High Court orders bike taxi ban

The Karnataka High Court’s ruling on Wednesday to stop bike taxi operations within six weeks has left many daily commuters anxious, as they heavily relied on this affordable and efficient mode of transport for last-mile connectivity. It has also put the livelihoods of hundreds of bike taxi riders at risk.

While autorickshaw drivers have welcomed the judgment, citing the lack of a legal framework regulating bike taxis, regular passengers argue that the ban is unfair. Commuters claim that the absence of bike taxis will leave them with no option but to depend on autorickshaws, which often overcharge or refuse rides.

Manju Prasad, who frequently uses bike taxis, said: “Bike taxis were an affordable and quick solution, especially for office-goers who needed a ride from their homes to metro stations. With autos and cabs being significantly more expensive, this ban is a major setback.”