[Update] Ola Joins Uber, Rapido In Relaunching Bike Taxis In Bengaluru

Update | August 22, 17:25

Ola has joined its rivals Uber and Rapido in restarting bike taxi services in Bengaluru, though the latter two had resumed theirs yesterday.

The resumption of bike taxi services comes after the Karnataka High Court pulled up the state government , questioning why the mode of transport could not be regulated instead of prohibited. 

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi, hearing appeals filed by Ola, Uber and Rapido, on August 20 observed: “Give it a serious thought, there are lives at stake here. Every trade is permissible unless regulated. This (bike taxi) is not res extra commercium.”

Original | August 21, 13:11

Bike taxis have returned to Bengaluru’s streets after nearly two months, with ride-hailing majors Uber and Rapido resuming their services, offering relief to both commuters and drivers.

Both apps are being observed to allow users to book bike taxis. Inc42 has reached out to Uber and Rapido for comments on the development. The story will be updated based on their responses. 

However, Ola has not resumed its bike taxi services in the state.

Moneycontrol was the first to report the development. 

The Karnataka High Court had ordered a ban on bike taxi services in the state, which came into effect on June 16 and has not been lifted. Meanwhile, yesterday, the court questioned the state on the prohibition of bike taxi operations and gave a one-month deadline to the government to clarify its stand on bike taxi norms.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by ride-hailing apps Ola, Uber and Rapido against the ban. 

After the Karnataka HC banned the bike taxi services in the state, riders staged a hunger protest across several cities in the state against the ban and urged the authorities to lift the ban on bike taxis in the state and implement an inclusive policy framework.

Bike Taxi Operators Face Uphill Task In Karnataka

In 2021, the Karnataka government issued a ban on bike taxi services in the state. It was also the first state to launch the Electric Bike Taxi Policy in 2021, only to retract it after three years, as it was found that riders were using private vehicles for commercial purposes, coupled with rising concerns around women’s safety.

It was also speculated that mounting pressure from auto unions pushed the government to roll back its Electric Bike Taxi Policy.

Following the policy’s withdrawal, ride-hailing companies such as Uber, Ola and Rapido moved the state’s High Court, seeking regularisation of the bike taxi services. However, in April, the court ordered a complete ban on such operations in the state.

While the Centre’s Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines (MVAG), 2025, allow non-transport motorcycles to operate for rides, the roll out is subject to approval from individual states.

The tussle over bike taxis in Karnataka persists, with the auto unions consistently pushing the state government to keep the ban intact, while ride-hailing platforms are resorting to legal measures to resume operations.

Maharashtra is another state which banned the operations of bike taxis in 2023. However, in April this year, the state gave its nod to the operations of electric bikes for bike taxi operations.

On the other hand, a policy permitting bike taxis, though limited to electric motorbikes, was issued by Delhi in October 2023.