<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka has no plans to legalise bike taxi services, despite the Centre releasing the Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, on July 1. </p><p>The guidelines, issued under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, provide a regulatory framework for state governments to license and regulate aggregators in the road transport sector. </p><p>Clause 23 specifies that "state governments may allow the aggregation of non-transport motorcycles for journey by passengers as shared mobility" and impose fees. </p>.Bike taxis 'affordable, convenient and safe,' woman commuter tells Karnataka High Court.<p>The Centre's move revived hopes for bike taxi services in Karnataka, which banned them on June 16 in accordance with a high court ruling. </p><p>Karnataka has maintained that the law does not permit the use of personal two-wheelers as transport vehicles. </p><p>Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy reaffirmed the position on Wednesday, arguing that guidelines alone were not enough. </p><p>"What's required is legislation to allow the use of personal two-wheelers for transport services. Parliament must first amend the Motor Vehicles Act, then the state legislature can act. And even then there are many issues with the bike taxi model...a lot of guidelines need to be put in place," he told DH. </p><p>Lack of safety remains his biggest concern. "Apart from road safety, there's also a big concern about women's safety. We're trying to prevent these issues. Social media seems to be in favour of bike taxis now, but when something goes wrong, they'll be the first to point fingers at the government," he said. </p><p>Reddy also pushed back against comparisons between auto drivers and bike taxi captains, calling it a "false equivalence". </p><p>Asked if the state government was yielding to pressure from auto drivers to not allow bike taxis, he responded that auto drivers operate within a "clear regulatory framework" that allows official oversight. </p><p>"They have permits and transport licences, wear uniforms, pay taxes and insurance. Bike taxi drivers have none of this," he stated. </p><p>Reddy added that the government was ready to consider bike taxi drivers' request but "only if they approach us within the regulatory framework. "You can't put the horse before the cart."</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka has no plans to legalise bike taxi services, despite the Centre releasing the Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, on July 1. </p><p>The guidelines, issued under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, provide a regulatory framework for state governments to license and regulate aggregators in the road transport sector. </p><p>Clause 23 specifies that "state governments may allow the aggregation of non-transport motorcycles for journey by passengers as shared mobility" and impose fees. </p>.Bike taxis 'affordable, convenient and safe,' woman commuter tells Karnataka High Court.<p>The Centre's move revived hopes for bike taxi services in Karnataka, which banned them on June 16 in accordance with a high court ruling. </p><p>Karnataka has maintained that the law does not permit the use of personal two-wheelers as transport vehicles. </p><p>Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy reaffirmed the position on Wednesday, arguing that guidelines alone were not enough. </p><p>"What's required is legislation to allow the use of personal two-wheelers for transport services. Parliament must first amend the Motor Vehicles Act, then the state legislature can act. And even then there are many issues with the bike taxi model...a lot of guidelines need to be put in place," he told DH. </p><p>Lack of safety remains his biggest concern. "Apart from road safety, there's also a big concern about women's safety. We're trying to prevent these issues. Social media seems to be in favour of bike taxis now, but when something goes wrong, they'll be the first to point fingers at the government," he said. </p><p>Reddy also pushed back against comparisons between auto drivers and bike taxi captains, calling it a "false equivalence". </p><p>Asked if the state government was yielding to pressure from auto drivers to not allow bike taxis, he responded that auto drivers operate within a "clear regulatory framework" that allows official oversight. </p><p>"They have permits and transport licences, wear uniforms, pay taxes and insurance. Bike taxi drivers have none of this," he stated. </p><p>Reddy added that the government was ready to consider bike taxi drivers' request but "only if they approach us within the regulatory framework. "You can't put the horse before the cart."</p>