Drivers & ride-hailing firms cheer Karnataka HC's bike taxi verdict, transport body opposes

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka's decision to lift the bike taxi ban has evoked mixed reactions.

Ride-hailing firms and bike taxi drivers welcomed the verdict, while the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations reiterated its opposition, citing concerns over safety and hygiene.

Speaking to DH, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said he needed to study the judgement before commenting.

AM Yogeesh, Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, echoed the sentiment.

Adi Narayana M, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association and one of the appellants in the case, said it was "a day of joy and celebration", saying their long struggle had finally paid off.

Rapido, the largest bike taxi aggregator and another appellant, termed the judgement "progressive".

"Recognising bike taxis as a legitimate mode of transport is not just a legal victory for us, but a milestone moment for urban mobility in Karnataka... As we move forward, we remain committed to complying with all applicable regulations and working closely with the government of Karnataka under its guidelines to strengthen the mobility ecosystem," a spokesperson said.

An Uber spokesperson said the decision would bring relief to lakhs of drivers who depend on bike taxis for their livelihood.

"We look forward to engaging with the state government on operationalising this mobility ecosystem and serving the mobility needs of our cities across the spectrum."

Uber was also an appellant in the case.

Federation president S Nataraj Sharma, who spearheaded the agitation against bike taxis, conceded that the court had directed the state government to register motorcycles as transport vehicles and grant them contract carriage permits.

However, citing a Supreme Court order mentioned in the high court judgement, he insisted that motorcycles with white number plates cannot operate as bike taxis until the government frames a scheme and issues licences.

He urged the government to stop the use of personal motorcycles as bike taxis immediately.

He also noted that framing a bike taxi policy was "purely" a legislative function.

However, Adi Narayana said bike taxis with white number plates could continue to operate until a formal policy was framed, as "there is nothing in the court that prohibits it".

The Bike Taxi Welfare Association claims to have around 10,000 members in Bengaluru and estimates nearly six lakh bike taxi drivers across Karnataka, including about three lakh in the city.

Karnataka had banned bike taxis on June 16, 2025, following a single-bench order, which has now been lifted by a division bench.

After the division bench earlier directed the government not to harass individual bike taxi drivers, ride-hailing firms began facilitating services on their platforms.

Rapido operates bike taxis without charging drivers any commission, while Uber levies a nominal insurance fee. Ola charges a daily subscription fee.

The firms are expected to return to full-fledged commission/subscription models in the coming days.