9 hours ago
Bike-rental services see renewed interest in Bengaluru after bike-taxi ban
Following the recent ban on bike-taxi services in Bengaluru, many city commuters have turned their attention towards bike-rental services, hoping they will help address the persistent issue of last and first-mile connectivity.
The bike-taxi services, which once provided a cheap and convenient mode of travel to and from metro and bus stations, had gained popularity for precisely these reasons. With their exit, however, the demand for alternatives has sharply risen, pushing commuters to explore self-driven rental bikes as a solution.
'Bike taxis were affordable and easy to book. Now, I walk at least 1.5 km to the metro station every day. If I can rent a bike for an hour or two, it will solve my problem,' said Murali S., a regular commuter from Rajajinagar.
For another commuter, Sahana M., who travels between her home in Jayanagar and workplace in Whitefield, the absence of last-mile options has added stress. 'I used to rely on bike taxis after getting off the metro. Now, I sometimes wait 20 minutes for an auto. If rentals become affordable and easily accessible, I will definitely use them. Earlier when I was in college I used to regularly use the bike rentals, even EV bikes were available,' she said.
The bike rental sector, which had seen a major decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now witnessing a cautious revival. Rental companies say the market is slowly warming up, especially among users seeking short-term mobility solutions.
Yulu, a Bengaluru-based company offering electric vehicle (EV) rentals, is already observing increased traction. The firm caters to two segments-individual mobility for leisure and commute, and goods mobility for delivery services. Speaking to The Hindu, a Yulu spokesperson said, 'On the individual mobility side, there is strong demand for our services, and Yulu's constant endeavour is to put more vehicles on the road to match that demand.'
Bounce Infinity, another prominent player in the space, also confirms a growing interest, albeit with a different focus for now. In an email interaction with The Hindu, Vivekananda Hallekere, CEO and Co-founder of Bounce Infinity, said, 'There is a strong need for mobility solutions that are both affordable and safe. Even when bike taxis were operational, they weren't sufficient. Currently, our rentals primarily cater to business to business use cases and customers opting for long-term rentals, such as weekly or monthly plans. For typical bike taxi use cases, our solutions would have been ride-sharing, which we are not currently operating.'
While Bounce Infinity is presently targeting gig workers involved in delivery and quick commerce, the company isn't ruling out consumer-facing mobility in the near future. 'For first and last-mile connectivity, we will think and reintroduce suitable solutions at the right time. In the past, around 40% of our rentals began or ended at metro stations, clearly showing how the service was used alongside public transport,' Mr. Hallekere said.
He also emphasised the need for a broader ecosystem of mobility solutions in Indian cities. 'Mobility is a complex challenge and no single solution can solve it all. For cities to thrive, we need a mix of shared mobility, walkable infrastructure, and strong public transport. Shared mobility, whether it's scooters, bike taxis, carpools, or shared autos, needs to be encouraged, especially to bridge the first and last-mile gap and make public transport more usable,' he said.
