Rapido clarifies bike services not operational in Karnataka; says Bike Direct is a non-profit initiative
Rapido clarified that Bike Direct is not a commercial service
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ALLEN EGENUSE J
After the Karnataka High Court clarified that it has not permitted bike taxi operators in the state, Rapido said its Bike Direct service is not a commercial operation but a non-profit initiative to support its captains.
In an official statement, the company said, “Bike Direct is a non-profit initiative by Rapido aimed at supporting our captains whose livelihoods were impacted due to recent operational restrictions. While the High Court permitted individual captains to operate independently, no one was able to secure bookings due to the absence of a dedicated infrastructure or platform. Rapido is providing them access to our technology, as a support measure under the name Bike Direct. This initiative enables captains to connect with potential customers and earn an income, helping them sustain their daily lives.”
It clarified that Bike Direct is not a commercial service and does not signify Rapido’s return to operating bike taxis.
businessline on Sunday reported that Uber and Ola have also pulled the plug on their bike taxi services, which they had resumed on August 21.
The High Court’s division bench, headed by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, stated that while individual vehicle owners may operate independently, bike taxi services by aggregators are not permitted. It added that authorities should not “harass” individual owners but are free to act against aggregators under existing law.
The court has given the Karnataka government one month to decide whether it will frame rules to regulate bike taxi operations.
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Published on August 25, 2025
