With the bike taxi ban in place, service providers have come up with an ingenious solution by renaming bike taxis to bike parcels/ couriers
Quick News Highlights
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Karnataka HC had banned bike taxis
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Service providers have rebranded bike taxis as Bike Parcels or Moto Couriers
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The ban has faced severe backlash from netizens
The Karnataka High Court had recently banned operations of two-wheeler taxi services in the state, until comprehensive regulations are in place. The ban has faced severe backlash from netizens online, with many complaining about Bengaluru’s traffic woes. However, service providers have come up with an ingenious solution to circumvent the ban – renaming bike taxis to something else.
With the ban coming in effect from June 16, 2025, service providers like Rapido and Uber have come up with an ingenious solution rebranding Bike Taxis as ‘Bike Parcel’ and ‘Moto Courier’ service respectively. Customers who are booking bike taxis are now being transported to their destination as ‘goods’, and not commuters.
Uber and Rapido have renamed their bike taxi options to bike parcel following the ban starting today. Well played, I guess? ???? pic.twitter.com/9W92Zou3y2
— Pranay Bagrecha (@BagrechaPranay) June 16, 2025
Bengaluru has been dealing with massive traffic jams for a while now, and bike taxis play a major role in easing the strain. Public transport services like metro, buses and auto rickshaws are often not as effective and affordable when it comes to last mile connectivity as bike taxis. With this ban, commuters who need to get places fast, and at a cheaper rate are left with no options. However, it seems like bike taxi companies have come up with ‘jugaad’-styled solutions, although the legality of this is questionable at best. Bengaluru police had recently conducted a city wide crackdown on bike taxis, seizing over 100 bikes in the process.
Became a parcel today since Karnataka HC has banned bike taxis.@rapidobikeapp is offering you to become a parcel and get delivered.#bangalore #rapido pic.twitter.com/UeyEz05m7F
— Bhavik Bafna (@BhavikBafna0207) June 16, 2025
That said, many netizens have been seen applauding this initiative, as it has helped in working around the bike taxi ban.
With the traffic jams getting worse by the day, bike taxis have become a very important element in urban mobility. Currently the ban has left citizens with no clear cut options for last mile mobility other than autorickshaws, which are, more often than not, expensive. Also there hasn’t been any clarity on whether or not the legislation regulating the operations of bike taxis will be coming into place soon. We hope a legal body is set in place on time so that everyday commuters are able to commute affordably. This will also help in providing more options for gig-workers who are dependent on their two-wheelers for a living.
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