Bengaluru Bike Taxis Return as Uber, Rapido Resume Services

Bengaluru Bike Taxis: Bike taxis are back on Bengaluru’s roads after being off for nearly two months. Ride-hailing platforms Uber and Rapido have quietly resumed services this week, offering much-needed relief to daily commuters and bike owners, according to media reports.

Why Were Bike Taxis Banned?

⦿ On June 16, the Karnataka government imposed a ban on bike taxi operations.

⦿ Following the order, RTOs cracked down by seizing vehicles and issuing steep fines.

⦿ This forced Uber and Rapido to pull their fleets out of Bengaluru.

Legal Battle in Court:

⦿ The companies approached the Karnataka High Court to challenge the restrictions.

⦿ On Wednesday, a division bench deferred the hearing of appeals to September 22.

⦿ The bench urged the state government to reconsider its stance, pointing out that the ban impacts the livelihood of lakhs of people.

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The Numbers Behind the Industry:

⦿ Before the suspension, nearly 1.2 lakh private bikes were attached to aggregators in Bengaluru.

⦿ Across Karnataka, close to six lakh people rely on the bike taxi ecosystem — either for income or affordable transport.

Government’s Stand:

⦿ Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy clarified that the High Court has not officially allowed aggregators to restart operations.

⦿ Instead, the court asked the state to frame a clear policy.

⦿ He also noted that bike taxis already function legally in several other states.

What’s Next?

Uber and Rapido have not yet issued a public statement about the resumption of services. Until the High Court hearing in September, the future of bike taxis in Bengaluru remains uncertain.