People Ride as ‘Parcels’ after Bike Taxi Ban in Bengaluru
The ban on bike taxis in Bengaluru, which came into effect on June 16, has led to an unexpected phenomenon. Several Rapido and Uber riders, who were earlier ferrying passengers as bike taxis, have started accepting parcel bookings but are actually ferrying passengers instead. This has raised concerns about the safety and legality of the situation.
According to reports, the bike taxi ban was implemented following a directive from the Karnataka High Court. The court had ordered the authorities to stop allowing bike taxis to operate on the city’s roads, citing concerns about the safety of passengers and other road users.
However, the ban has had an unintended consequence. Many bike taxi riders, who were previously earning a living by ferrying passengers, have been left without a source of income. To make ends meet, they have started accepting parcel bookings but are instead ferrying passengers.
One such rider, who spoke to Moneycontrol, said, “We aren’t doing this to break rules but because we have no choice. We need to earn a living and we can’t do that by sitting idle. We are doing this to survive.”
The rider, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he had been ferrying passengers on his bike for several years and had been earning a decent income. However, with the ban in place, he was left with no option but to accept parcel bookings and ferry passengers instead.
“I know it’s not legal, but we are doing it to survive,” he added.
This development has raised concerns about the safety of passengers, as well as the legality of the situation. The authorities, who had banned bike taxis in the first place, are now left to deal with the fallout.
The government has been trying to promote public transport and improve the city’s road infrastructure. However, the bike taxi ban has had an unintended consequence, as it has left many people without a source of income.
The situation has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the ban. While the authorities may have been trying to improve road safety, the unintended consequences of the ban have left many people in a difficult situation.
In a related development, the Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the state government, seeking a response to the ban on bike taxis. The court has asked the government to explain why it had not consulted with the stakeholders before implementing the ban.
The court has also sought a report from the government on the impact of the ban on the city’s economy and the number of people who have lost their livelihood as a result of the ban.
The situation is a classic example of the unintended consequences of regulations. While the authorities may have been trying to improve road safety, the ban on bike taxis has had a ripple effect, leaving many people without a source of income.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the authorities will address the issue. Will they find a way to allow bike taxis to operate legally, or will they continue to enforce the ban? Only time will tell.
News Source: https://x.com/NDTVProfitIndia/status/1934585749955064156
