Safety concerns surrounding bike taxi services in Bengaluru have intensified following the recent death of a 54-year-old school teacher who allegedly fell from a bike taxi and suffered fatal injuries to her nose and forehead.

The incident has prompted commuters to raise questions about the condition of vehicles and the quality of safety equipment provided by bike taxi operators, even as such services remain one of the city’s most affordable and convenient transport options.

Commuters report poorly maintained vehicles

Several regular users told Deccan Herald that they are often assigned rides on bikes and scooters with worn-out tyres, damaged mirrors, faulty lights and poorly maintained helmets.

Sanjana Kothari, a 23-year-old commuter, said riders are frequently offered half helmets instead of full-face protection.

“Rarely is the rider provided a helmet that fully covers the head. They usually offer half helmets,” she said.

Another commuter, Nayana from RT Nagar, highlighted concerns about rented and second-hand vehicles being used for commercial rides.

She noted that many riders, particularly those working part-time, operate rented electric bikes and often do not carry an extra helmet for passengers.

Police cite challenges in enforcement

Traffic police officials said identifying bike taxis on the road remains difficult due to the absence of distinct registration markings.

Gopal M Byakod, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic South), said there is no easy way to distinguish a bike taxi from a privately used motorcycle.

He added that regardless of the vehicle’s purpose, half helmets do not offer adequate protection and pose a safety risk to riders and passengers alike.

Operators highlight insurance coverage

Responding to the recent incident, Rapido said it had reached out to the deceased teacher’s family and offered assistance with the insurance claim process.

According to the company, bike rides booked through its platform are covered by personal accident insurance, including accidental death benefits of up to ₹5 lakh and hospitalisation coverage of up to ₹1 lakh.

Uber also stated that all bike taxi drivers using its platform are covered by accident insurance and are required to provide helmets to passengers before every trip.

The renewed debate comes as Karnataka begins work on a policy framework to regulate bike taxi services and address commuter safety concerns.