In a growing standoff with the Karnataka government, members of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association (BTWA) staged hunger protests across multiple cities on Sunday, June 29, voicing their anger over the ongoing ban on bike taxi services in the state.
From Bengaluru to Mysuru, Mandya to Davangere and Ramanagara, riders took to the streets—not with slogans or blockades, but with empty stomachs—to demand that the state reverse its crackdown on bike taxis and introduce fair, inclusive regulations that protect their livelihoods.
The protest wasn’t just symbolic. It came with a heartfelt appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, delivered through an open letter that painted a stark picture of the crisis. “This isn’t rage. It’s survival,” the letter read. “We ride in the scorching heat and pouring rain to earn a living. Now, many of us are left with no income and no way forward.”
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According to the BTWA, the blanket ban has stripped thousands of their only source of income. Some riders, the letter said, have been pushed to the edge—forced to beg just to put food on the table. The association stressed that bike taxi jobs have been a crucial lifeline, especially for working-class Kannadigas, students, single mothers, homemakers, and migrants who rely on the flexibility of gig work to survive.
The riders also slammed the government for what they say is a double standard: two-wheelers are perfectly acceptable when delivering parcels, but not when ferrying passengers—even though both fall under similar legal frameworks in the Motor Vehicles Act and gig economy models.
They argued that bike taxis are now a vital part of urban mobility in Karnataka, especially when it comes to last-mile transport for millions of commuters. Unless the government acts soon, they warned, the protests could escalate into an indefinite hunger strike.
This weekend’s demonstration follows a tense episode just days ago, when a group of drivers protesting outside the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru were arrested for gathering without permission. A case was filed against them for violating protest norms.
Now, with tensions rising and livelihoods on the line, the ball is back in the state government’s court.
