Bengaluru: Women commuters in Bengaluru strongly defended bike taxis before the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday, asserting the service is affordable, convenient, and among the safest modes of daily transportation for them. Their submission comes amid legal scrutiny of the state government’s ban on bike taxis, a decision that aggregators Ola, Uber, and Rapido are currently challenging.
A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi is hearing multiple appeals against a previous order that blocked bike taxi operations, citing the lack of specific guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari, representing a woman commuter seeking to intervene in the case, urged the court to consider women’s dependence on the service. “We, as women, want this service to continue. We must be heard before such decisions are made,” she argued, adding that the service is safer than many alternatives and vital for daily commuting.
Highlighting safety protocols adopted in other states, Kothari cited measures like police verification, pre-qualification tests, night-time restrictions (in West Bengal), and encouragement for female bike taxi riders. She also referenced Rajasthan’s model, where minor riders are prohibited and police clearance is mandatory for drivers.
Kothari bolstered her argument with findings from a national-level KPMG report, which supports the utility and safety of bike taxis. “The study confirms bike taxis are not just economical, but statistically safer,” she said.
Supporting her view, Senior Advocate Uday Holla (appearing for Uber) argued that states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have revised policies to allow bike taxis after earlier bans. Emphasising Bengaluru’s poor last-mile connectivity and worsening traffic congestion, he called the ban regressive.
“With just two metro lines, the city lacks comprehensive transit coverage,” he noted. “Traffic has worsened since the ban — congestion is up by 18 per cent. This hurts commuters and pushes them back to private cars.”
Holla also dismissed safety concerns as a narrative pushed by powerful auto unions. “The real resistance isn’t about safety but competition,” he said, adding that aggregators like Uber and Ola merely facilitate transportation and don’t operate vehicles themselves.
The court has reserved its observations as it continues to hear arguments, with stakeholders pushing for a regulatory rather than prohibitive approach. The outcome could redefine urban mobility and last-mile transport options in Karnataka.
