<p>Bengaluru: Regular auto commuters struggle to hail rides despite opting to include tips — an amount that has been steadily rising — making daily commutes increasingly expensive.</p><p>Ride aggregator apps offer users the option of adding a tip to secure a ride faster during peak hours.</p><p>However, tip amounts have risen from a maximum of Rs 30 to Rs 50 on many busy routes. Despite this, commuters report longer wait times — even during off-peak hours.</p>.Free auto rides for RCB fans in jersey.<p>Rijul Ballal, a psychologist in Bengaluru, noted that ride aggregators are now prompting users to tip even before checking for available rides. "Earlier, they would search first and then ask for a tip, if no one accepted the ride. But now, they ask you to tip right away. It takes a while to get an auto without tipping," he said.</p><p>For Swathi B, a chartered accountant, commuting daily between Race Course Road and Malleswaram has become more challenging over the past week. "I have to wait quite a bit in the morning to get a ride. Sometimes, they get cancelled without any reason. Even after adding a Rs 10 or Rs 20 tip, it is still time-consuming to get an auto during peak hours," she said.</p><p>None of the ride aggregator companies responded to queries or offered a comment on the issue.</p><p>In May 2024, the High Court of Karnataka dismissed writ petitions filed by ride-hailing companies that sought to quash a 2022 Transport Department notification. The notification stipulates that app-based aggregators cannot charge more than 5% above the regulated auto fares in Bengaluru.</p><p>Independent mobility expert Sathya Arikutharam explained that the current “tips before trips” approach fosters opaque pricing while ignoring actual demand and supply. "Commuters are not informed about nearby auto drivers, and vice versa. Aggregators control this information, creating a false sense of scarcity, which pushes commuters to opt for higher tips," he said.</p>.<p>Manjunath, president of the Adarsh Auto Union, observed that the trend has led to many drivers only accepting rides with higher incentives.</p><p>When contacted, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said action would be taken on a case-by-case basis. "We will act against vehicles charging more. Commuters are suffering because they have to pay extra. I think all autos should leave these aggregator platforms and operate independently. That would solve a lot of these problems," he said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Regular auto commuters struggle to hail rides despite opting to include tips — an amount that has been steadily rising — making daily commutes increasingly expensive.</p><p>Ride aggregator apps offer users the option of adding a tip to secure a ride faster during peak hours.</p><p>However, tip amounts have risen from a maximum of Rs 30 to Rs 50 on many busy routes. Despite this, commuters report longer wait times — even during off-peak hours.</p>.Free auto rides for RCB fans in jersey.<p>Rijul Ballal, a psychologist in Bengaluru, noted that ride aggregators are now prompting users to tip even before checking for available rides. "Earlier, they would search first and then ask for a tip, if no one accepted the ride. But now, they ask you to tip right away. It takes a while to get an auto without tipping," he said.</p><p>For Swathi B, a chartered accountant, commuting daily between Race Course Road and Malleswaram has become more challenging over the past week. "I have to wait quite a bit in the morning to get a ride. Sometimes, they get cancelled without any reason. Even after adding a Rs 10 or Rs 20 tip, it is still time-consuming to get an auto during peak hours," she said.</p><p>None of the ride aggregator companies responded to queries or offered a comment on the issue.</p><p>In May 2024, the High Court of Karnataka dismissed writ petitions filed by ride-hailing companies that sought to quash a 2022 Transport Department notification. The notification stipulates that app-based aggregators cannot charge more than 5% above the regulated auto fares in Bengaluru.</p><p>Independent mobility expert Sathya Arikutharam explained that the current “tips before trips” approach fosters opaque pricing while ignoring actual demand and supply. "Commuters are not informed about nearby auto drivers, and vice versa. Aggregators control this information, creating a false sense of scarcity, which pushes commuters to opt for higher tips," he said.</p>.<p>Manjunath, president of the Adarsh Auto Union, observed that the trend has led to many drivers only accepting rides with higher incentives.</p><p>When contacted, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said action would be taken on a case-by-case basis. "We will act against vehicles charging more. Commuters are suffering because they have to pay extra. I think all autos should leave these aggregator platforms and operate independently. That would solve a lot of these problems," he said.</p>