Bike taxi ban in Bengaluru: Thousands of riders struggle to find their footing

Time of India

16-06-2025

Bengaluru: The ban on bike taxis has left thousands of riders in the lurch, stripping them of a livelihood that many had come to rely on.
From college students riding to pay their fees to tech professionals laid off during the slowdown, bike taxis had emerged as more than just a quick side hustle.
For many in Bengaluru, it became a reliable fallback, a way to stay afloat in tough times.
Riders said they travelled over 100km of traffic-clogged roads and earned up to Rs 3,000 a day, a sum that covered a significant chunk of their monthly expenses. For others, especially those with weekday jobs, it became the perfect weekend gig.
TOI spoke to several riders who described how the job offered more than financial support — it gave them a purpose and a human connection.
"Riding helped me beat loneliness," said a college dropout trying to save up for higher education, adding: "Every ride was a chance to meet someone new, to feel useful and earn while doing something I enjoyed."
Indra Shekar, a 25-year-old from Mahadevapura who rode on Rapido and Uber platforms, said he would save money for his business after he couldn't land a software job post his engineering course. "I've always wanted to start a business, but a regular monthly salary makes saving tough.
That's when I turned to bike taxis — no pressure, no targets and full flexibility. This ban will hit many like me who use the mode to chase bigger dreams.
I'm even considering shifting to Hyderabad to continue riding — I'm not giving this up," Shekar added.
Another bike-taxi driver, Jagadeesh, a 24-year-old non-IT professional, said the bike-taxi gig has been a financial lifeline amid rising costs. "I earned around Rs 3,000 a day and managed to save at least Rs 2,000.
These days, a full-time job alone isn't enough — especially if you want to set aside some money or make a big purchase in a city as expensive as Bengaluru," he said.
Sagar, who works from 6pm till midnight, said the sudden halt in bike-taxi services has upended his routine and livelihood. "It's very disappointing. It had been a lifesaver, offering me the freedom to work on my own terms," he said, adding: "Now, I've lost my only source of income and am looking for a job."
A 27-year-old techie chose to ride a bike taxi to overcome loneliness: "I stay in Whitefield, and after office hours, I take rides on my way home. It's a way to have some company during the long and often boring traffic jams. It also helps me build new relationships."
We need framework: Assn
Namma Bike Taxi Association submitted a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging their intervention to support over 1 lakh gig workers affected by the ban. They demanded a policy framework to regularize bike-taxi services. "The drivers demand clear rules on licensing, insurance and safety rather than being criminalized overnight. "We are part of the same informal economy that Karnataka claims to support.
Why are we being shut out without a conversation?" questioned Mohammed Salim, president of Namma Bike Taxi Association.