Bengaluru: Ride-hailing platform Rapido has claimed that traffic congestion in Bengaluru has increased by 18% following the ban on bike taxi services in the city.

The statement was made during a hearing at the Karnataka High Court, where a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi heard interim petitions filed by ride-hailing companies Ola, Uber, and Rapido, along with petitions from bike owners and commuters seeking permission to resume bike taxi services.

Senior advocate Uday Holla, appearing for Rapido, said that the ban is being justified in the name of women’s safety, a concern raised by autorickshaw unions opposing bike taxis. However, he added that data shows an 18% increase in traffic congestion in Bengaluru since the ban came into effect.

Citing examples from other states, Holla said Tamil Nadu had previously banned bike taxis but has now allowed them. Similarly, Kerala permits bike taxis. In contrast, Bengaluru has limited metro connectivity with only two operational lines and lacks a last-mile connectivity system. He pointed out that cities like Tokyo have multiple metro lines, but Bengaluru’s traffic and transport issues are unique.

Meanwhile, advocate Vaishali Srilakshmi filed an interim appeal seeking to be considered a petitioner in the case. She supported the resumption of bike taxi services.

Senior advocate Jayna Kothari, representing Vaishali, argued that the ban on bike taxis was imposed citing women’s safety, but in reality, these services offer a convenient, safe, and affordable travel option for daily commuters. She further added that women’s voices were not heard before the ban was enforced.

The High Court has postponed the hearing for further consideration.