Bengaluru man opts for Rs 12 bus ride over Rs 175 auto fare, calls it a protest
In the same post, he highlighted two things he learned from the experience:You can now pay BMTC fares via UPI, making the ride smoother without haggling for change.Switch Mobility's electric buses are comfortable, although he pointed out a minor issue with acceleration, which he said was likely due to variable passenger load.Take a look at his now-viral post here: Social media users shared their own commuting experiences. A user called out a similar incident during the rains, saying, 'Needed a rick in the rain, guess who's charging Rs 175 for 3 km? Rapido!' and suggested EV autos running via app-based platforms might be a good fix.Another user offered a practical tip: 'Use the Namma BMTC app for live tracking. It's not perfect, but it works. Pair it with UPI and you're sorted.'A user who claimed themselves to be a long-time BMTC commuter added: 'Been using BMTC for a year now. No frequency issues (500D), and I don't struggle with last-mile connections.'Another user praised Jain's move, saying, 'As a fellow BMTC fan, it gives me great joy to see you support the bus! UPI payments made things simpler after the fare hike.'However, not everyone was cheering. A user sarcastically said, 'Same way we don't want to waste money on your scooters that stop when there's a pillion rider. You call that derating? Hilarious!'Others took the chance to critique the Switch Mobility buses. 'Why can't the floor be flat? Too many steps inside, feels like climbing into an auditorium,' one of the users said. Another user said, 'You can get daily passes through the Tummoc app too. Also, airport buses on the BMTC app are really accurate.'See the comments here: Swapnil Jain's Rs 12 decision was too relatable for Bengaluru's daily commuters, not just for the price, but for the quiet rebellion against soaring urban transport costs. Whether or not it dents the auto pricing problem, it has certainly sparked a much-needed conversation.- EndsMust Watch
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