The change occurs after the Superior Court of Karnataka ordered transportation suppliers based on applications such as Fast, Ola and Uber to stop offering bike taxi services within six weeks. | Photo credit: file photo
With the preparation of Bengaluru to implement a prohibition of bicycle taxis after a recent directive of the Superior Court, city travelers are forced to rethink their daily travel options. Among the emerging alternatives, the shared trip is rapidly gaining popularity, especially among the professionals who work and students looking for affordable and reliable options.
The change occurs after the Superior Court of Karnataka ordered transportation suppliers based on applications such as Fast, Ola and Uber to stop offering bike taxi services within six weeks.
For thousands of daily travelers, bicycle taxis have been a low cost solution and saving time in the city with traffic. “The bicycle taxis were of the cheapest alternative after the BMTC and the Metro buses. With their recent tariff walks, we are running out of budget options,” said Pavithra G., a daily traveler of Jayanagar.
Public transport costs have increased in recent months, aggravating challenges for daily travelers. As of April 1, the state government increased the Diesel sales tax, which increases fuel prices in ₹ 2 per liter. Almost at the same time, Metro rates rose to 71%, and BMTC bus rates saw a 15%increase. This trial of the growing costs has left travelers fighting alternatives who won a hole in their pockets.
Viable and sustainable option
In this context, the shared trip has become a viable and sustainable option. Several shared travel platforms are witnessing greater interest of users. Quickride, one of the most established platforms, catering is specifically for intra-cities travelers who go to the offices districts. Other applications such as Gopool and Quicreach are operating using yellow commercial vehicles to connect passengers on similar routes.
The legality of the shared trip in Bangalore had previously asked questions, but the Karnataka government in 2023 clarified that these services are allowed whenever they are not driven by profits. While the Department of Transportation had announced its intention to frame a dedicated shared travel policy, official guidelines are still expected.
For many in the city, the shared trip is not only an economic choice but a need in the current situation.
“I started sharing the trip last month through Quickride, and my office is in Whitefield, and I live in Jayanagar. A regular taxi costs at least ₹ 500 in one way, which is not sustainable. With the car, I share the trip on the trip and finish three and payments and payments and payments and payments and payments. I walk to make new friends and the long travel time Murthy, a payment and payments and payments. Elderly.
Others plan to make the change soon. “I have bones depending on the bicycle taxis during the last two years, the packer was fast and cheap, especially for last mile connectivity from the subway. But with the prohibition and the tariff walks, I am seriously consulting in the car and a flooring. Vijayanagar to many travel transport applications.
The transport analyst and traffic expert MN Srihari said that the shared trip could play a fundamental role in resolving multiple urban transport challenges. “The Government must intervene with a clear and support policy to promote the shared trip. It is not just affordability: the shared trip helps reduce the number of vehicles on the road, reduce emissions, reduce fuel consumption and even encourage social interaction. As the displacement becomes more expensive, more cities naturally will gravitate towards the carpery if it is manufactured and more structured,” he noted.
Published – April 17, 2025 09:23 PM IST