Mohammed Salim, president of the association has requested that the government, “safeguard the livelihood of lakhs of gig workers in the state of Karnataka,” in his letter.
Published Jun 16, 2025 | 5:33 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 16, 2025 | 5:33 PM
Karnataka’s bike taxi operators ordered off the roads
Synopsis: After Karnataka banned bike taxis following a court order, the Namma Bike Taxi Association appealed to CM Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi, urging protection for over 1 lakh gig workers. They stressed the ban’s impact on livelihoods and affordable transport. Uber suspended services from 16 June, while riders and drivers called for dialogue and a clear, fair regulatory framework.
With bike taxis officially stopped from functioning in Bengaluru city, an urgent letter has been shot off to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, 15 June from the Namma Bike Taxi Association.
Mohammed Salim, president of the association has requested that the government, “safeguard the livelihood of lakhs of gig workers in the state of Karnataka,” in his letter.
The letter reads, “Over 1,00,000 gig workers in Bengaluru and across Karnataka are losing our right to earn and feed our families because of a blanket ban on bike taxi services. As their collective voice, this is an appeal to you to stop this ban and help us earn our daily bread with dignity.”
Citing the media reports claiming that the state government has no plans to bring rules for bike taxis, and will soon start taking action against us for being “illegal”, Salim urged, “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 seven 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,” he added.
Countering the argument that bike taxis lack safety, and are prone to accidents, Salim claimed, “Instead of bringing in clear rules for licensing, training, and insurance, the Transport Department has chosen to ban our source of income with no consideration for the impact it can have on drivers.”
“Earlier, an electric bike taxi scheme was brought out and taken back without consulting us. Such sudden decisions without consideration throws thousands of drivers into financial distress.”
The association president reminded Chief Minister Siddaramiah of important steps that were taken for gig workers like social security rules, welfare boards, insurance. “These gave us hope. But today, this hope is breaking. What is the use of benefits if we are not even allowed to work?” he questioned.
From the passenger point of view, he claims that they 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 eight crore trips in a year. Who will help these riders now?”
Requesting on behalf of the people affected by the ban, he wrote, “Don’t ban us overnight. Talk to us. Help us find a way so that passengers can travel safely, rules are followed, and our families can survive. If there are real issues, let us solve them together do not ignore our voice.”
South First spoke to a few users of bike taxis in the city. Nehal who works in an MNC says, “Today was really tough. I think the government has to really take a call on this or rethink about this decision. I did try to book autos and cabs for nearly an hour but it was not possible. Though autos were available, none of them were picking the rides. I had to reach my office late.”
A student Ruthu said that she often uses bike taxis to travel. “Faced a lot of problems today. Cabs and autos are expensive. This of course increases the amount we have to spend on transportation daily,” she noted.
An Uber spokesperson commenting on the ban says, “Uber has taken the difficult decision to suspend bike taxi operations in Karnataka from 16 June following an order from the Hon’ble High Court. This will negatively impact the many thousands of riders who rely on bike taxis for their daily mobility needs, as well as the many thousands of drivers who rely on the service for their livelihood. We will continue engaging with the Government of Karnataka to help shape a progressive policy framework that enables safe, accessible, and affordable mobility options for everyone.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
