Following the auto driver union’s diatribe against bike taxis, the latter protested for protection.
Story so far: After the autorickshaw associations’ strike against bike taxis in the city, taxi bikers staged a demonstration demanding protection from harassment by the former. The demonstration was held at Freedom Park on Monday. It saw over a thousand participants.
- There are about 1.20 lakh taxi bikers in Bengaluru, and more than 5 lakh people, including their spouses, parents, and children, rely on their earnings.
- A lack of employment opportunities compels people to work as taxi bikers. They are often assaulted and robbed by customers. Despite registering FIRs with the police, there’s been no redressal.
Case history: On December 16, 2022, Wicked Ride, Bounce’s parent company, received a license to operate e-bike taxis in Karnataka. Bike services are validated under the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme, 2021.
- On March 23, 2023, the bike taxi association of Bengaluru filed a petition after the autorickshaw union head urged drivers to burn all bike taxis in a Facebook video.