Bike taxis banned in Delhi: Here is all you need to know

Bike taxis are affordable and flexible first-and last-mile connectivity solutions. They also generate huge employment opportunities, boost the local economy, help reduce the congestion in cities and ease traffic jams.

India is a country with the most congested and crowded cities with traffic snarl. It is a very common experience to face traffic jams while going to offices, schools and airports, railway stations, and meetings. With increasing urbanisation and growing road traffic, bike taxis are a convenient and affordable mobility option for first and last-mile connectivity.

In what has come as a major drawback for bikes, the Transport Department of the Government of Delhi has banned commercial bike taxi services from plying on the roads of the national capital. The drivers will also lose their licence for three months if found in violation of these rules.

Why have bike taxis been banned in Delhi?

The use of two-wheelers for commercial purposes violates the Motor Vehicles Act, of 1988, said the Delhi Government. The first offence could lead to a fine of Rs. 5,000 while the second offence could incur  a Rs. 10,000 fine and imprisonment of up to a year, the department said in a public notice.

What will cab aggregators have to pay if they violate the bike taxi ban?

Cab aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido will have to pay Rs. 1 Lakh in fines for plying bike taxis on the roads of Delhi, the transport department has cautioned. Many bike taxis are run by many aggregators in the National Capital Region.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court refused to entertain an appeal filed by Rapido challenging the Maharashtra government's denial to grant the company a two-wheeler bike taxi aggregator licence. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the amendments made to the Motor Vehicles Act in 2019 clearly state that without a valid licence, an aggregator cannot operate.

Bike taxis are affordable with ease of booking but safety is a concern:

Bike taxis are the most popular form of mobility and an easy way of booking a taxis compared to the earlier methods. Car fairs are more compared to bike taxi fares, which increase the cost of travelling for a single person.  It reduced the cost of travelling for one person.

Authorities say the safety of the passengers is the prime reason behind the ban. Also, there is no specific provision in the law for bike taxis.