
Bengaluru commuters celebrate return of bike-taxis on social media, share relief and excitement
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The Karnataka High Court recently called the ban 'thin' and 'legally untenable,' upholding the right of operators to their livelihood and urging the government to work toward a clear regulatory framework.
Following the ruling, Uber and Rapido promptly restarted operations, while Ola has yet to follow suit.
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The court has also requested that drivers not face penalties in the meantime, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2025.
On social media, users have expressed relief at the return of this popular, affordable mode of commute, especially helpful in severe traffic. Several celebrated the move, with one Bengaluru resident commenting: 'My wallet can finally breathe,' to a post on Reddit.
ALSO READ | Rapido in the dock even as bike taxis return to Bengaluru roads
'Its back and i rode today , got confronted by 3 difft auto annas , they were angry by seeing my driver riding Rapido but didn't yell at me and thankfully my driver was very fluent in Kannada and he was to talk them out. They apparently identified us by seeing the rapido icon of my captain's phone . CRAZY,' Another user said.
'Booked a Rapido bike after so long…..feels good to be back,' a commuter posted. 'Felt so good to finally hop on one again instead of waiting forever for autos. Quick, cheap, and honestly the best way to dodge Bengaluru traffic,' he added.

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You may regulate, but regulation cannot mean complete prohibition," the bench stressed, pointing out the contradiction in permitting cars and autos while barring motorcycles. top videos View all The advocate general argued that motorcycles cannot be treated as 'transport vehicles" under the Motor Vehicles Act, citing the Delhi example where the Supreme Court had held that such services could not run without a policy. But the court pushed back, asking, 'You say congestion is the reason, but is there material to show that bike taxis cause more congestion than autos? Are you suggesting that autos congest less?" The bench concluded that Karnataka has 'no policy, only prohibition", warning that the state cannot indefinitely avoid framing rules while effectively banning the sector. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Bike Taxi karnataka transport view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: August 22, 2025, 00:12 IST News india Wheels In Motion: Karnataka's Bike Taxis Are Back, But What About The 'Ban'? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...