“Karnataka High Court Lifts Ban on Bike Taxis”

The Karnataka High Court on Friday removed the ban on bike taxi services in the state, giving relief to companies and passengers who depend on these services for daily travel. The court cancelled an earlier order by a single judge that had supported the Siddaramaiah government’s decision to stop bike taxis.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi heard the appeals filed by bike taxi operators and aggregators such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido. After reviewing the case, the judges ruled that bikes can be used as transport vehicles, but only if they follow the required legal rules and get proper permissions from the authorities.

The earlier ban had forced many bike taxi drivers to stop working, affecting their income and causing inconvenience to commuters, especially in busy cities like Bengaluru where traffic congestion is high. Many passengers prefer bike taxis because they are cheaper, faster, and can easily move through traffic.

With the High Court’s decision, bike taxi services are expected to resume soon. Companies will now have to meet government guidelines and obtain the necessary approvals to operate legally. The ruling is likely to benefit both drivers and daily commuters across the state.