Bengaluru: Following a recent case involving an alleged molestation by a bike taxi driver, Seemant Kumar Singh has said that the city police will introduce stricter regulations and review safety measures followed by bike taxi operators.
The move comes as bike taxi services continue to grow in Bengaluru, raising concerns around passenger safety, driver verification and accountability in this relatively new segment of urban transport.
Commissioner Singh stated that while meetings had earlier been held with ride aggregator platforms, bike taxis were not included at the time as they were not widely operational on city roads.
“We will now create a separate database to examine cases related to bike taxis and will soon call for a meeting with the respective aggregators,” he said.
The proposed database is expected to track complaints, incidents and operational patterns involving bike taxi drivers, enabling authorities to monitor the sector more closely.
Focus on safety and accountability
Highlighting the nature of the profession, Singh emphasised the importance of trust between drivers and passengers.
“In such professions, where you have a direct relationship with the consumer, trust is very important. With bike taxis being a fairly new profession, we need to establish strict rules of operation,” he added.
The police are expected to examine both safety protocols and adherence to traffic regulations by drivers, particularly in light of the recent incident.
Among these, Rapido shared details of its safety framework, stating that all drivers, referred to as “captains”, undergo multiple verification steps before onboarding.
According to the company, this includes background checks, KYC verification using documents such as Aadhaar, PAN and driving licence, and mandatory training modules focusing on rider conduct and safety awareness.
The platform also provides in-app safety features such as real-time ride tracking, live location sharing, an SOS button for emergencies and round-the-clock customer support.
Additionally, systems are in place to detect irregular ride behaviour, such as unexpected or prolonged stops, which trigger alerts and proactive checks with users.
Industry practices and gaps
According to Adi Narayan, safety protocols are broadly similar across aggregator platforms, particularly in terms of document verification and background screening.
However, he noted differences in training requirements. While platforms like Uber and Rapido mandate completion of video-based training modules and assessments, such structured training is reportedly not consistent across all operators.
These variations have raised questions about standardisation in the sector, especially as demand for bike taxis increases in congested urban areas.
Growing demand, rising scrutiny
Bike taxis have gained popularity in Bengaluru due to their affordability and ability to navigate heavy traffic, offering a convenient last-mile connectivity option.
However, the recent incident has brought the sector under renewed scrutiny, with authorities now focusing on strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure passenger safety.
The planned engagement between police and aggregator platforms is expected to address gaps in current systems and introduce clearer operational guidelines.
Conclusion
As bike taxis become an integral part of Bengaluru’s transport ecosystem, the need for robust safety measures and regulatory clarity is becoming increasingly urgent. The police’s decision to create a dedicated database and review existing protocols signals a step towards greater accountability in the sector, aiming to balance convenience with commuter safety.