Bengaluru: A routine bike-taxi ride through Bengaluru’s busy roads turned into an unexpected encounter for a city resident after she discovered that her rider was a full-time Infosys employee using his spare time to work as a bike-taxi rider.

Bengaluru resident Chaarmika Nagalla shared the experience in a LinkedIn post that went viral in April 2025. She had booked a bike taxi to navigate the city’s traffic and reach work on time when the rider greeted her with an unusual, “Am I audible?”

An unusual rider behind the helmet

The formal greeting prompted Nagalla to strike up a conversation. She soon learnt that it was the rider’s first day doing bike-taxi work and that he was employed full-time with Infosys in its contract management team.

According to her account, he had chosen to take up bike rides during weekends and early mornings to earn additional income and make better use of his free time instead of spending it scrolling through social media.

Another Bengaluru ride brought a similar surprise

The story became even more interesting when Nagalla encountered another corporate professional on a bike ride the following day.

The second rider reportedly worked for a B2B event management company. His reason for taking up bike rides was different. He said that rather than travelling home alone after work, completing a ride gave him an opportunity to have company along the way.

Beyond money, a question about loneliness

Nagalla’s experience raised a broader question about the changing nature of work in Bengaluru. While side gigs are often associated with earning extra money, her encounters suggested that some professionals may also be seeking activity, social interaction and a break from their regular routines.

The experiences highlight how Bengaluru’s gig economy is evolving, with professionals increasingly combining corporate careers with flexible work outside office hours.

What began as an attempt to beat Bengaluru traffic ultimately became a reminder that behind the city’s corporate workforce are people looking for different ways to spend their time, earn more and connect with others