One last ride... Bengaluru’s bike taxis go off grid on Monday

, Bengaluru, DHNS (BYLINE)

Bengaluru: After the crackdown on bike taxis began Monday, aggregator platforms continued offering the service through the day.

While Ola and Rapido suspended their bike taxi services around noon, rides remained available on Uber till 5.30 pm.

Around 5 pm, when DH booked a 'Moto Courier' from MG Road to Commercial Street, the rider confirmed over a call that it was a bike taxi service, not a courier delivery. The ride was accepted by Abdul Huq, 32, who had returned to Bengaluru that afternoon after attending a family emergency in Hassan.

Having operated bike taxis full-time for four years, Abdul was shocked to find his services suspended on most apps. The ride booked by DH turned out to be his last for now, as Uber withdrew the ‘Moto Courier’ option by 5.20 pm.

Several commuters told DH that bike taxis could be booked on Ola and Rapido till noon.

The ‘Moto Courier’ on Uber and ‘Bike Parcel’ on Rapido were officially meant for deliveries, but “some people misused it”, claimed Adi Narayana M, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association. “I got a booking under the service, and the customer was expecting a bike taxi. When I said it was only for goods delivery, the person emotionally coerced me into dropping them,” he said.

'Looking at food delivery apps'

Balaji Venkat, 57, plans to join Rapido’s upcoming food delivery service. “Till then, I will be doing courier services. At my age, no one is going to offer me a job,” he said.

He used to earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 a month. “Since shifting to courier work a few days ago, my daily income has dropped by 40 per cent."

Will hurt the pocket, says student 

With bike taxis gone, Suhas Gowda, a college student, wonders how he will travel to JP Nagar daily. "I stay in Ejipura. I used bike taxis every day to get to college as they were cost-effective and time-efficient,” he said.

For Saranaya M, her commute will become 60 per cent more expensive.