<p>Many of those running bike taxis are looking for alternative jobs as the High Court has cried a conditional halt to their services.</p><p>Last week, the court said bike taxis would not be allowed to operate in the state unless the state government notified proper guidelines under Section 92 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Over the last few years, owners of bikes and scooters have been able to register on ride-hailing apps and offer rides to the public. Auto drivers have been vocal in denouncing the arrangement as bike taxis are not registered as public vehicles with yellow boards.</p>.<p><strong>Logistics route</strong> </p>.<p>In 2023, after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, Densilin K M, 32, moved to Bengaluru from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. After several failed attempts to find a job, he signed up as a bike taxi driver.</p><p>“While this is not what I set out to do, I have grown fond of it as it brings in a steady income and also allows me some down time,” he says. </p><p>From May, he plans to start working full-time for a pharmaceutical delivery service. “While the pay will be slightly lower and there will be less flexibility, the job offers stability,” he adds. </p><p>Bhargav Kumar, 22, started taking up Rapido rides to fund his studies. He usually works between 6 am and 1 pm, and makes about Rs 1,500 a day. “I don’t need to work late hours. But if I move to other sectors, I won’t be able to focus on my education. I have tried food delivery apps, and there you have to put in double the work for half the pay. If bike taxis are banned, I will be moving to Porter instead,” says the engineering student. </p><p>Thirty-two-year-old Zeeshan Azeez also plans to switch. “I have been working as a bike taxi driver for close to four years, and on the side, I have also been making deliveries for Porter. If there is uncertainty in the bike taxi sector, I will join Porter full-time,” he says. </p>.India's rising 'gig economy'.<p><strong>Holding on…</strong></p><p>Medical student and bike taxi driver Hemanth Mishra is hopeful that the government will act quickly to rescue bike taxis. “If they regulate the sector and bring in yellow boards for bike taxis, it will all work out. It will also give us better job stability,” says the 24-year-old. </p><p>While moving to another sector is an option, a clerical job will not bring in the same pay, says Maria Fernandes, 28. “A regular job would only pay me ₹15,000 to ₹16,000, which isn’t enough to support my family since I am the sole breadwinner. With bike taxis I make double the amount,” he adds. </p><p>Ismail Noor signed up with a bike ride aggregator when he couldn’t find any other job. “Give us jobs with better pay and we will stop bike taxis. But if that is not possible, it is unfair to stop this service,” says the 37-year-old. </p>.<p><strong>1.5 lakh bike taxis on Rapido</strong></p><p>While bike taxis are available on apps like Ola and Uber, Rapido remains the most popular aggregator with 1.5 lakh bike taxi drivers. </p><p>A Rapido spokesperson says: “We strongly believe that bike taxis are an integral part of urban transportation, bridging crucial first- and last-mile gaps for commuters. Rapido is closely reviewing the details of the order and will evaluate appropriate legal remedies to ensure uninterrupted service for our customers. We remain committed to working alongside policymakers to shape a long-term, sustainable mobility ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.” </p>.<p><strong>Money worries</strong></p><p>Several bike taxi drivers are in distress, says Adi Narayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association. “They have financial commitments. Many have children, and in a month or so, they need to pay their school fees. Asking them to wrap up operations without as much as a warning is unfair,” he says. </p><p>The association plans to meet Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to gain clarity. “So far, Rapido and Uber have assured us they are trying to sort this out. We are also trying to get in touch with Ola,” he says. Currently, the association has 5,000 members. </p><p><em>(With inputs from Ishika Sethi)</em></p>
<p>Many of those running bike taxis are looking for alternative jobs as the High Court has cried a conditional halt to their services.</p><p>Last week, the court said bike taxis would not be allowed to operate in the state unless the state government notified proper guidelines under Section 92 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Over the last few years, owners of bikes and scooters have been able to register on ride-hailing apps and offer rides to the public. Auto drivers have been vocal in denouncing the arrangement as bike taxis are not registered as public vehicles with yellow boards.</p>.<p><strong>Logistics route</strong> </p>.<p>In 2023, after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, Densilin K M, 32, moved to Bengaluru from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. After several failed attempts to find a job, he signed up as a bike taxi driver.</p><p>“While this is not what I set out to do, I have grown fond of it as it brings in a steady income and also allows me some down time,” he says. </p><p>From May, he plans to start working full-time for a pharmaceutical delivery service. “While the pay will be slightly lower and there will be less flexibility, the job offers stability,” he adds. </p><p>Bhargav Kumar, 22, started taking up Rapido rides to fund his studies. He usually works between 6 am and 1 pm, and makes about Rs 1,500 a day. “I don’t need to work late hours. But if I move to other sectors, I won’t be able to focus on my education. I have tried food delivery apps, and there you have to put in double the work for half the pay. If bike taxis are banned, I will be moving to Porter instead,” says the engineering student. </p><p>Thirty-two-year-old Zeeshan Azeez also plans to switch. “I have been working as a bike taxi driver for close to four years, and on the side, I have also been making deliveries for Porter. If there is uncertainty in the bike taxi sector, I will join Porter full-time,” he says. </p>.India's rising 'gig economy'.<p><strong>Holding on…</strong></p><p>Medical student and bike taxi driver Hemanth Mishra is hopeful that the government will act quickly to rescue bike taxis. “If they regulate the sector and bring in yellow boards for bike taxis, it will all work out. It will also give us better job stability,” says the 24-year-old. </p><p>While moving to another sector is an option, a clerical job will not bring in the same pay, says Maria Fernandes, 28. “A regular job would only pay me ₹15,000 to ₹16,000, which isn’t enough to support my family since I am the sole breadwinner. With bike taxis I make double the amount,” he adds. </p><p>Ismail Noor signed up with a bike ride aggregator when he couldn’t find any other job. “Give us jobs with better pay and we will stop bike taxis. But if that is not possible, it is unfair to stop this service,” says the 37-year-old. </p>.<p><strong>1.5 lakh bike taxis on Rapido</strong></p><p>While bike taxis are available on apps like Ola and Uber, Rapido remains the most popular aggregator with 1.5 lakh bike taxi drivers. </p><p>A Rapido spokesperson says: “We strongly believe that bike taxis are an integral part of urban transportation, bridging crucial first- and last-mile gaps for commuters. Rapido is closely reviewing the details of the order and will evaluate appropriate legal remedies to ensure uninterrupted service for our customers. We remain committed to working alongside policymakers to shape a long-term, sustainable mobility ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.” </p>.<p><strong>Money worries</strong></p><p>Several bike taxi drivers are in distress, says Adi Narayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association. “They have financial commitments. Many have children, and in a month or so, they need to pay their school fees. Asking them to wrap up operations without as much as a warning is unfair,” he says. </p><p>The association plans to meet Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to gain clarity. “So far, Rapido and Uber have assured us they are trying to sort this out. We are also trying to get in touch with Ola,” he says. Currently, the association has 5,000 members. </p><p><em>(With inputs from Ishika Sethi)</em></p>