Bengaluru: Rapido has introduced Bike Direct, a non-profit initiative aimed at supporting riders whose livelihoods have been affected by recent restrictions, following the renewed suspension of bike taxi services in Karnataka. The platform is designed to help individual riders continue operating independently despite the absence of aggregator services.
The move comes after bike taxi services from platforms such as Ola and Uber were halted again, following a brief resumption. The Karnataka High Court clarified on August 22 that it had not authorised aggregators to operate bike taxis in the state, prompting the renewed suspension.
Rapido stressed that Bike Direct is not a commercial service but a temporary measure to sustain incomes.
🚨🚨🚨 New development@Uber_India and @Olacabs again seem to have disabled bike taxi options.#Bangalore #rapido #biketaxi pic.twitter.com/HjdoR2lU5X
— Vivek Ganesan (@Vivek_Ganesan) August 25, 2025
Widespread frustration among daily commuters
The uncertainty has sparked widespread frustration on social media, with users calling for clear government guidelines and a permanent solution.
“Isn’t bike taxi a solution to traffic and to end the harassment by auto drivers? Even the Supreme Court has said bike taxis are legal,” reads a post on X (formerly Twitter) expressing concerns about the latest bike taxi ban in Karnataka.
Notably, this start-stop pattern has left thousands of Bengaluru commuters struggling for dependable transport. Bike taxis had emerged as a vital, low-cost option for navigating the city’s congested streets and covering last-mile travel. Their suspension is expected to worsen traffic, raise travel costs, and particularly affect students, office workers, and daily wage earners.
Karnataka High Court’s clarification on its earlier order
The court explained that a previous direction on August 20 was intended solely to prevent coercive action against individual riders and did not permit aggregators to resume operations. Companies including Ola, Uber, and Rapido had restarted services despite this, leading to their withdrawal on Monday.
While individual riders are allowed to operate independently, many have struggled to secure bookings without a dedicated platform.