The Namma Bike Taxi Association has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, urging immediate intervention to stop the state’s blanket ban on bike taxis, set to take effect from June 16.

This comes in the wake of a recent Karnataka High Court verdict that upheld an earlier government order declaring the operations of bike taxi platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber Moto illegal, citing the lack of a clear regulatory framework.

In their letter, the association stressed that over one lakh gig workers across Karnataka, many of them in Bengaluru, depend entirely on bike taxis for their livelihood.

“We, bike taxi drivers, are students, daily-wage earners, helpers, parents – many of us turned to this work when other jobs were not available, especially after COVID. Some of us work all 7 days, covering 10-12 hours a day, just to feed our families. We ride in the hot sun, heavy rain, and traffic to keep the city moving. This is how we pay rent, school fees, and medical bills. Bike taxis are not a side income. They are how we survive,” the letter said.

Rather than an outright ban, the association has urged the government to introduce clear guidelines around licensing, insurance, driver training, and safety, as done by Delhi, Telangana, and Rajasthan.

They also warned of disruptions to daily commuters, citing that bike taxis offer nearly 8 crore rides annually and remain the most affordable option in many areas underserved by other transport modes.

“Passengers also suffer. Many use bike taxis for quick, low-cost rides. These are the only affordable rides for thousands, especially where buses are few. We do nearly 8 crore trips in a year. Who will help these riders now?” the letter read.

Calling for constructive dialogue with driver communities, the association has asked for a balanced and inclusive policy that protects both passenger safety and gig workers’ livelihoods.

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