Bengaluru: The city’s notorious wheelie culture has come under sharper scrutiny, with traffic police mapping 37 hotspots where reckless stunts are most rampant. Surveillance has been tightened across these stretches, many of which are not just along the Outer Ring Road but also in the city’s core areas.

Police identify danger zones

A senior traffic officer said the mapping exercise was based on years of observing patterns.
“We studied which roads youngsters choose for wheelies and the factors that give them the confidence to attempt such dangerous stunts. Identifying these stretches helps us plan policing better on the ground,” the officer said.

The crackdown follows repeated appeals in the state legislature, where several MLAs urged Home Minister G Parameshwara to act tough on reckless bikers. The Karnataka High Court too flagged the issue earlier, observing that current laws were “hardly sufficient” to curb the menace and calling for amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Motor Vehicles Act.

Surge in cases

Legislature data shows a steep rise in wheelie-related cases. While 404 cases were booked in 2022, the number slightly dipped to 392 in 2023, but surged to 822 in 2024. This year alone, till July, police have already booked 706 cases.

Officials attribute the rise to special drives targeting stunt riders. Police also found that wheelies are most common between midnight and 5 am, when roads are relatively empty.

“These 37 hotspots are continuously monitored by special police teams. We are also targeting speeding, sound pollution, and other traffic violations,” Parameshwara said.

Accidents and penalties

Eight accidents — some fatal — have been directly linked to wheelies in the city so far. To deter offenders, police are going beyond criminal cases.

  • Driving licences suspended: 27 in 2023, 57 in 2024, and 25 already in 2025.
  • Registration certificates cancelled: 85 in 2023, 195 in 2024, and 142 this year.

RTOs have also been directed to cancel the registration of bikes involved in stunts.

Trouble for parents of minors

In cases involving minors, police are booking parents and guardians under the Motor Vehicles Act for allowing an unlicensed rider to use the vehicle. Fines of up to ₹25,000 may be imposed, and parents are produced before the court.

Police have also recommended that the transport department deny driving licences till the age of 25 to youngsters caught performing wheelies.

Hotspots under surveillance

The stretches where wheelies are most common include:

  • Old Madras Road (Bhattrahalli and Medahalli)
  • ITPL Road
  • Outer Ring Road
  • West of Chord Road
  • Hosur Main Road (Garebhavipalya and Bommanahalli junction)
  • Chennamma flyover in Banashankari
  • Ballari Road
  • Tumakuru Road
  • Nagawara Road
  • Hemmigepura and Kommaghatta Road

Conclusion

Despite repeated awareness campaigns, Bengaluru’s wheelie culture continues to endanger lives, prompting police to adopt stricter enforcement and surveillance. With courts and legislators backing tougher laws, authorities hope the crackdown will reduce the menace — but much will depend on consistent enforcement and public cooperation.