As the deadline set by the Karnataka High Court to implement the ban on bike taxis draws closer, drivers who provide the service stepped up their demand for legalisation. On the morning of Saturday, May 17, over 100 bike taxi riders, including two women, submitted a memorandum to state Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy seeking his intervention in protecting their livelihoods.
The Karnataka HC had directed the state government to enforce the ban on bike taxis by June 15. While calling on the government to lift the ban, the Bike Taxi Association (BTA) urged it to introduce a legal policy for bike taxis.
“We are poor people trying to earn a living, and the people who use our services are also from modest backgrounds,” said Adi Narayanan, president of the BTA. “We’re not asking for special treatment—just clear rules. Whatever policy the government brings in, we are ready to follow. But we’re requesting them to act fast. We’ve been waiting for too long.”
Adi Narayanan also questioned the inconsistency in regulation. “Food delivery riders from Swiggy and Zomato also use two-wheelers under the same law. So why single us out? We follow traffic rules, treat our customers well, and our vehicles are insured—up to Rs 5 lakh.”
He said that states such as Goa have already legalised bike taxis. “There’s a provision in the Motor Vehicles Act to make this change. If other states can do it, Karnataka can too.”
Manjunath, who has been a Rapido rider for five years, added, “There are about 5,000 to 10,000 riders in Bengaluru who rely on this work. Across Karnataka, there may be 2 to 3 lakh riders in total. We’re not stealing anyone’s jobs—not even auto drivers’. We just want to earn with respect.”
Two women riders, Divya BK and Preethi Rajshekar, who have been working in this field for six months and 1.5 years respectively, also made the same appeal.
Pratham Gowda, another BTA member, said the Minister acknowledged the demand but offered no clarity. “He asked us to bring policies from other states and said he’ll ‘see what can be done’. But for now, the High Court ban still stands.”