Bengaluru: A Bengaluru resident has alleged that an auto-rickshaw driver chased the Rapido bike taxi he was travelling on and attempted to pull him off the moving two-wheeler, raising concerns over passenger safety amid tensions surrounding bike-taxi services.
The man shared his experience in a post on Reddit’s r/RapidoUsers community, titled “An auto driver chased my Rapido bike and tried to pull me off it in Bengaluru.”
According to his account, he had opted for a bike taxi after finding auto-rickshaw fares too expensive for a short journey of around 2–3 km. What began as an attempt to save money allegedly turned into a frightening experience when an auto driver chased the bike and tried to grab his hand.
The incident has drawn reactions from Reddit users, several of whom urged him to report the alleged incident to the police and share details that could help identify the driver.
Man says auto fares were too expensive for short trip
Recounting the incident, the Reddit user said he had approached a few auto-rickshaw drivers to arrange transport for the short journey. However, he was quoted a fare of Rs 120.
Unwilling to pay that amount for a distance of approximately 2–3 km, he decided to book a Rapido bike taxi instead.
The user said he had been living in Bengaluru for a long time and was a local resident, but had never experienced such an incident before.
The situation allegedly escalated when an auto-rickshaw driver began chasing the bike on which he was travelling. According to the post, the driver attempted to grab his hand and pull him off the moving two-wheeler.
The alleged attempt left the passenger shocked. He expressed concern that the incident could have resulted in serious injuries had the driver succeeded in pulling him off the bike while it was in motion.
The account, however, was shared by the passenger on social media, and the allegations have not been independently verified.
Passenger says intimidation is unacceptable
The Reddit user acknowledged that auto-rickshaw drivers might have concerns about bike-taxi services and the competition they bring to the transport sector. However, he maintained that such concerns could not justify physical intimidation or behaviour that potentially endangered a passenger.
His post also sought advice from fellow users on the steps he should take following the alleged incident.
He asked whether he should approach the police immediately or file a complaint with Rapido, the platform through which he had booked the ride.
The incident has once again brought attention to the tensions that can arise between conventional auto-rickshaw services and app-based bike taxis in Bengaluru. Passengers increasingly use ride-hailing platforms to arrange short-distance journeys, while disputes over fares and competition between different modes of transport can lead to disagreements.
However, the specific circumstances of the alleged confrontation remain unclear, and no official police statement or confirmation of a complaint was included in the account shared online.
Reddit users urge police complaint
The post attracted strong reactions from other Reddit users, several of whom advised the passenger to report the alleged incident to the police rather than treat it merely as a disagreement between transport service providers.
One user said the auto driver’s alleged behaviour should have serious consequences, including possible cancellation of the driver’s licence if the facts were established and the relevant authorities found grounds for such action.
Another user advised the passenger to provide the auto-rickshaw’s registration number to the police. The commenter said identifying the vehicle could help the authorities investigate the incident and potentially prevent similar situations in the future.
A third user suggested checking whether traffic surveillance cameras had captured the alleged chase. Such footage, if available and preserved, could potentially help establish what happened.
The same commenter also recounted a personal experience involving a Rapido rider who had allegedly asked a passenger to pretend they were friends because of harassment from auto-rickshaw drivers while operating bike-taxi rides.
These accounts reflect concerns expressed by individual social media users. They do not independently establish the details of the Bengaluru incident or indicate whether similar allegations have been formally investigated.
Bike-taxi safety and transport disputes
The alleged incident highlights the importance of passenger safety during disputes involving different forms of public and app-based transport.
Regardless of disagreements over fares, competition or the operation of bike-taxi services, attempts to interfere with a moving vehicle or physically remove a passenger could put both the passenger and the rider at risk.
For passengers who experience threats or physical intimidation, reporting the incident promptly and providing available details—such as the vehicle’s registration number, the location, the time and any relevant video footage—may help the authorities assess the complaint.
In this case, the passenger sought advice online about whether to approach the police or report the matter to Rapido. The available account does not establish whether he subsequently filed a complaint or whether the police initiated an investigation.
The allegations have prompted calls from online users for accountability, but any action against the driver would depend on the facts established through an investigation.