Bike Taxi Riders Demand Reversal of Karnataka Ban, Slam Policy Vacuum and Job Losses

Just days after the Karnataka government imposed a statewide ban on bike taxis (effective June 16), over 100 riders under the Namma Bike Taxi Association met with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S. Muniraju on Thursday, pleading for a policy rethink, according to ANI.

Representing thousands of affected drivers, the association submitted a formal appeal demanding legalization and regulation instead of outright prohibition. They urged the government to introduce a structured framework to prevent harassment and confusion.

The protest follows multiple unanswered pleas to top Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi, intensifying criticism of the government’s silence—especially after the recent passage of the Gig Worker Welfare Bill, which promised protections for flexible job workers.

“My phone won’t stop ringing—250 to 300 riders call me every day. What do I tell them? We want regulation, not chaos,” said Mohammed Salim, President of the Namma Bike Taxi Association.

The ban has sparked friction with auto-rickshaw unions, and commuters report increased fares and worsening traffic, particularly in Bengaluru, which is already battling congestion.

Though Central guidelines (Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2020) classify bike taxis as legitimate, Karnataka has yet to pass matching state-level laws. The Electric Bike Taxi Policy introduced in 2021 was quietly repealed in 2024, leaving riders and passengers in limbo.

Read also:

• Bengaluru Bike Taxi Ban Begins Livelihoods at Risk
• Bengaluru Sees Spike in Auto and Taxi Fares After Statewide Bike Taxi Ban