The stop-start saga of bike taxis in Karnataka has taken another twist. Within days of hitting the roads again, Uber and Ola have quietly pulled their two-wheeler services, while Rapido is attempting a detour of its own. Its new experiment, Bike Direct, is being pitched as a low-cost alternative for riders and passengers.
Rapido Launches Bike Direct As Bike Taxis Ban Crisis Surfaces In Karnataka
According to Money Control, the trigger was a High Court clarification on August 22. A bench headed by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru said the court had never cleared bike taxi aggregators to operate, and it was up to the state to decide how to regulate them. The judges warned the government against harassing bike owners, but pressed it to come up with a coherent policy. The court remarked to give it serious thought, as lives remain at stake in this arrangement.
The remark was enough to make Uber strip the “bike” option from its app. Following this, Ola also hit pause. Rapido, however, doubled its stakes. On August 24, it unveiled a new feature called ‘Bike Direct.’
Also Read: After A Month Of Uncertainty, Are Rapido & Uber Bike Taxis Making A Comeback In Karnataka?
So, What Is Bike Direct?
Rapido pitches it as a matchmaking tool: a lead-generation platform that links its ‘Captains’ directly with verified customers. It is a no commission, no app-based incentives and no platform charges idea.
In theory, it’s free. Rapido says it’s simply keeping demand flowing so riders can earn, while passengers still get low-cost rides.
But behind the corporate phrasing lies a hard reality. For more than two months, bike taxi riders in Karnataka have been whiplashed by bans, brief resumptions, and sudden suspensions. The Karnataka Bike Taxi Welfare Association (BTA) claims more than six lakh people depend on the sector. Many are now defaulting on EMIs, missing rent, and scrambling into delivery jobs that pay less and offer no stability.
A BTA delegation has handed over a proposal based on the Centre’s Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, a framework already adopted in 17 other states. Whether Karnataka follows suit remains to be seen. For now, the government has told the court that the decision will be taken “at the highest level.” The next hearing is on September 22.
Also Read: ‘Necessity, Not Luxury’ Becomes Rallying Cry In Karnataka’s Bike Taxi Ban Battle
Cover Image Courtesy: rapido.bike/Website
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