Bike taxi riders stage hunger protest against ban, write open letter to CM

Thousands of bike taxi drivers and their families across Karnataka began a hunger protest on Sunday, asking the state government to lift the ongoing ban on two-wheeler passenger services.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU: The demonstrations, which took place in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Davanagere, and Ramanagara, were coordinated by the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, which termed the protest their "final plea for survival."

"For years, bike taxis have been a lifeline for both riders and commuters. In big cities like Bengaluru, they help people beat traffic and get to where they need to go quickly. In smaller towns and rural areas, they're often the only source of income for young people who don't have access to other jobs," the association stated in a statement. It described the ban as a direct threat to their livelihoods.