‘Please protect us and allow us to earn’: Bengaluru taxi bikers

“Many work as taxi bikers as they do not have employment. But these innocent people are being attacked for no reason. Taxi bikers are being assaulted and robbed at many places when they go to pick up customers. Though several FIRs have been registered, no action has been initiated. We need protection to carry out our work,” he added.

It can be recalled that the Bengaluru Auto Drivers Unions’ Federation had announced a strike and staged a protest against Rapido bike taxis and other whiteboard and e-bike taxi services operating in the city on March 20. The Federation termed the bike taxis as “illegal”.

More than 1,000 taxi bikers participated in the protest held at Freedom Park. (Express Photo)

Raju, a taxi biker who is also a diploma (electronics) graduate, said he quit his job four years ago after getting a pay cut. “I am the sole earner in my family. I have my mother, wife, sister, her two children, and my child to take care of. I have been working for four years and on average earn Rs 500 to 800 per day (after deducting fuel costs). The autorickshaw drivers not only oppose us but also rob money, mobile phones and assault us if they find us ferrying customers. Don’t we have the right to earn just like them?” he asked.

On March 23, the bike taxi association of Bengaluru filed a petition before the Bengaluru city police after auto union head Raghu Gowda in a Facebook video asked autorickshaw drivers to “burn each and every bike taxi on the road.”

The transport department on December 16 issued a licence to Wicked Ride, the parent company of Bounce, to operate e-bike taxis in the state. The government has fixed the fare at Rs 25 for 5 km and Rs 50 for 10 km. E-bike taxi services have been permitted under the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme 2021, which was started to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity, promote environment-friendly transport solutions, and ease urban mobility.