Several bike taxi riders from across Karnataka took out a bike rally to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Saturday, urging the state government to lift the ban on bike taxis and introduce a regulatory framework to govern their operations. Riders from cities including Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Davangere, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, and Kanakapura participated in the rally.
The protest comes in the wake of the Karnataka High Court’s order directing bike taxi operators to suspend operations pending the formation of rules under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act by the government.
Bike taxi operators claimed that the ban has impacted the livelihoods of more than six lakh people across the state. Many participants claimed the ban has pushed them into financial distress, with no alternative source of income and increasing pressure to meet basic household needs such as groceries, rent, and school fees.
“Before the ban, I could earn enough to keep my family going. Now there’s no money coming in,” said Ramesh, a rider from Tumakuru. Ravi, a rider from Mysuru, added, “This ban hasn’t just taken away our jobs – it’s taken away our dignity.”
Apart from riders, regular commuters have also been affected by the absence of bike taxis, with concerns raised over increased fares and limited transport options. Protesters highlighted that bike taxis had provided a quick and affordable last-mile connectivity option in urban and semi-urban areas.
Riders have requested the state government to formulate a bike taxi policy that “addresses safety, registration, and operational guidelines – similar to what is already in place in 19 other Indian states.”
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has emphasised that the state government is not inclined towards drafting a bike taxi policy and that whiteboard two-wheelers cannot be used for commercial purposes.
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Officials of the road transport offices across Bengaluru also seized 103 bike taxis earlier this week for operating despite the Karnataka High Court’s directive to suspend operations in the state.
The transport department officials have booked the riders of the 103 bike taxis across RTO divisions in the central, west, south, north, east, Electronic City, and KR Puram, among others.