Commuters left stranded as Karnataka bike taxi ban wipes out cheap and convenient travel options

Gavisha Dhonsi, 28, has to travel almost 20 kms daily from her home in Electronic City to her office in MG Road in Bengaluru, switching buses twice. Until June 13, she could leave her house during peak traffic hours and still reach her office on time. 

However, from Monday (June 16) this week, she has had to leave her home at around 7:30 AM to arrive at the office by 10 AM. This is because, on June 16, the Karnataka government upheld the ban on bike taxis in the state, forcing ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido to remove their bike taxi options. 

This move has left many commuters, like Gavisha, hunting for alternative modes of transport. 

“Bangalore’s traffic is very hectic to be in. It is jam-packed on the road during rush hour. These bike taxis were the only saving grace because a lot of roads are under construction, and when you have to travel from one part of the city to another, bikes can squeeze through the traffic and run-down roads to help reach your destination faster,” she says. 

While Gavisha said that during peak hours, the prices of bike taxis and auto rickshaws are comparable, two-wheelers can swim through Bengaluru traffic that has cemented her preference over the option. 

The Karnataka government has banned bike-taxis as they were deemed illegal under the Motor Vehicles Act. The state believes that private two-wheelers used for commercial rides fall outside the definition of transport vehicles. 

Additionally, auto-rickshaw unions have long protested against bike taxis, claiming that these taxis, being cheaper, have unfairly eaten into their livelihood. 

To address the same, around 110 bike taxi drivers from ride-hailing platforms met with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S Muniraju on Thursday, days after the state banned bike taxis.

During the meeting, the drivers also raised concerns over intimidation by the auto unions. The groups have been at loggerheads in the state, with the auto rickshaw unions striking earlier this year against bike taxis. 

With no clarity on when the ban will be lifted, commuters are left with comparatively expensive transportation modes, such as auto-rickshaws and cabs, as metro connectivity in the city is still being developed. 

“I usually would spend between Rs 15 and Rs 20 for a bike taxi while commuting to work or Rs 30 maximum. Today, if I have to travel the same distance, I have to pay double the amount. I would probably choose to walk now or wait for a friend to split the auto fare with,” said 27-year-old Vrinda Das. 

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Another user of bike taxis, Shoubhik Ghosh, 28, recalls that most of the bike taxi drivers that he had interacted with were using this feature to help complement their low-paying jobs. “One of the bike taxi drivers that had come to pick me up was working as a peon, and another was running a small shop in the neighbourhood selling cigarettes.”

The bike taxi ban has dealt a severe blow to over one lakh gig workers in Karnataka. 

In a press release by the Namma Bike Taxi Association, multiple driver partners voiced their frustration and worries over the ban. “I have borrowed (money) twice already this month. My daughter’s school is asking for fees, and I have nothing left,” said 37-year-old Imran M*, who is the father of two. 

In a city like Bengaluru, where last-mile connectivity is still developing, bike taxis offered a cost-effective and convenient option. All the individuals YourStory spoke to as part of this story also said that they found it easier to get a bike taxi during peak hours compared to an auto or a cab, and the cancellation rate of a bike taxi was much lower compared to auto rickshaws and cabs. 

*Name changed on request.