Bike Taxis Banned In Karnataka, “Three Months To Frame New Rules,” Says High Court To Government

Karnataka's government is caught in a difficult position. Following a High Court ruling that ordered bike taxi services to be suspended within six weeks, the government has been asked to  create a legal framework for the safe operation of the bike taxis within three months.

The core contention centers around competing interests: technology-enabled mobility services versus traditional transport operators' livelihoods. Auto-rickshaw unions strongly oppose bike taxis, claiming their 2.7 lakh members have suffered income losses, while digital platforms and their users advocate for modern transport solutions.

(Also Read: Delhi to Impound Uber and Ola Bike Taxis for Violating Ban)

Justice BM Shyam Prasad emphasised that the state government must remain responsive to emerging trends and shouldn't shut itself off from possibilities presented by new technologies. However, the transport department had already withdrawn its Electric Bike Taxi Scheme in March 2024 after launching it in 2021, due to pressure from auto-rickshaw unions.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India has proposed a joint committee to develop guidelines and requested temporary permits for compliant operators during the policy development phase. However, auto union leader Raghu Narayan Gowda criticised previous non-compliance by aggregators who operated white-board two-wheelers as bike taxis.

This standoff reflects a long struggle over mobility regulations in Karnataka. Despite central government recommendations in 2016 to promote bike-sharing for last-mile connectivity, the state's expert committee opposed bike taxis in 2019, citing congestion, safety, emissions, and inefficiency concerns. Considering how chaotic Bengaluru’s traffic conditions have become over the past half a decade or more, effective public transport is the need of the hour. And the resolution on the matter is highly needed.