Bengaluru: Karnataka has banned bike taxis in the state, starting June 16 (today). The ban was upheld by the High Court on Friday. The state government also made it clear that it will not frame any policies to legalise the contentious service.
Reactions from commuters and netizens
The ruling follows a legal battle involving the major bike taxi operators, Ola, Uber and Rapido. The ruling has not pleased netizens and the citizens of Bengaluru in particular. Karnataka government’s decision came under heavy criticism from the residents.
The state government was urged to rethink its stance, at least for Bengaluru. They claimed that the bike taxi operators are the city’s lifeline and help navigate through the heavy traffic of the city.
Initially the grace period granted to the bike taxi operators was supposed to end in May. However the court had extended it to June 15. However following the latest decision by the High Court, the bike taxi services came to a halt across Karnataka from June 15, Sunday.
Response of bike taxi operators
Meanwhile the Bike Taxi Association has written a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging them to roll back the ban order. In the letter Namma Bike Taxi Association claimed that over 1 lakh gig workers—including students, daily wage earners, and informal workers—would lose their primary source of income due to the impending bike taxi ban from June 16.
The association also criticised the state government for going in for a blanket ban, instead of framing a regulatory framework for licensing, safety standards, and accountability. They also argued that many bike taxi drivers rely solely on this work to pay for essentials like rent, school fees, and medical expenses, and that sudden policy changes push them into financial distress.
The Association also described the bike taxis as essential last mile last-mile transport option, especially in areas underserved by public transit, with over 8 crore rides annually in Karnataka. They urged the government to include drivers in policymaking, highlighting that social security schemes are meaningless if they’re not allowed to work. They asked for discussion, not abrupt bans.
It remains to be seen how the state government deals with the situation and how they respond to the concerns raised by the Bike Taxi Association.
