'Bike taxi is not only cheap but also safe', woman said in Karnataka High Court during hearing on OLA-Uber-Rapido's petition

Ola, Uber and Rapido have challenged the Karnataka High Court's April order that had banned the operation of bike taxis.

During a crucial hearing in the High Court on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) on the issue of the ongoing ban on bike taxis in Karnataka, women commuters said that the two-wheeler service is not only affordable and convenient but also one of the safest travel options for them.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswara Rao and Justice CM Joshi was hearing an appeal filed by Ola, Uber and Rapido challenging the single judge's April order which had banned their operations.

 

 

The earlier verdict had held that 'bike taxi aggregators' cannot legally provide bike taxi services in the state in the absence of specific guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The court had also ruled that the state transport department cannot be compelled to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits.

 

Senior advocate Jayna Kothari, appearing for a woman passenger who sought to be made a party in the case, urged the court to consider the voice of women who depend on bike taxis on a daily basis.

Responding to court questions on safety protocols in other states, Kothari cited measures such as night-time bans in West Bengal and efforts to encourage women bike taxi drivers, as well as background checks on riders. He argued that these regulatory steps make the service safer and more inclusive.

 

Citing Rajasthan's policy, he said that police verification of drivers is mandatory and minors are prohibited from driving. Senior advocate Uday Holla, representing Uber, also spoke in favour of lifting the ban. He said that states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala had earlier banned bike taxis, but now they have amended their policies and allowed them.

Citing Bengaluru's limited metro coverage, Holla emphasised the importance of two-wheeler services for connectivity to the end destination. "Look at the metro system here. There are only two lines. Even with more lines, they will not cover the entire city," he argued. Holla cited recent data showing that traffic jams in Bengaluru have increased by 18 per cent after the ban on bike taxis.