Rapido Gets Creative: Calls Bike Taxi Rides ‘Parcels’ to Skirt Karnataka Ban

Ride aggregator Rapido has stirred controversy yet again-this time by rebranding its bike taxi service as a "Bike Parcel" service in a clever workaround to bypass the Karnataka High Court's ban on bike taxis. Though officially intended for delivery services like those offered by Borzo or Dunzo, the rebranded service continues to ferry passengers under the garb of parcel delivery, triggering both public outrage and humour online.

Rapido originally gained popularity across Indian cities for its affordable and fast bike taxi services, especially in traffic-heavy cities like Bengaluru. However, due to growing regulatory and safety concerns, several states, including Karnataka, have imposed a ban on such services.

Rebranding or Rule-Bending? Netizens Call It Out

Under the newly launched Bike Parcel service, passengers are still being transported-only now labeled as "parcels." This legal loophole has sparked witty responses across social media platforms.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter),"Became a parcel today since Karnataka HC has banned bike taxis. Rapido is offering you to become a parcel and get delivered."

Another added,"Rapido and Uber made a Bike Parcel option to bypass the Bike Taxi ban. Now you can book a Bike Parcel/Moto Courier and parcel yourself to the selected destination. Win for Bengaluru folks."

Uber, too, has seemingly taken a page from Rapido's playbook by introducing a similar 'Motor Courier' option, which many believe functions like a bike taxi service in disguise.

Bengaluru's Dependency on Bike Taxis Continues

Despite bans and ongoing controversies, Bengaluru commuters continue to depend on bike taxis to navigate the city's notorious traffic congestion. With both Rapido and Uber exploring workarounds like "Bike Parcel" and "Motor Courier", the legality and ethicality of these services remain in question.

The Karnataka government has yet to issue an official response on whether these rebranded services comply with regulatory guidelines or violate the spirit of the High Court's order.

As Rapido skirts the bike taxi ban using semantic tricks, the debate around the legality, necessity, and safety of bike ride aggregators in India continues. Whether this 'bike parcel' workaround stands the test of legal scrutiny remains to be seen. For now, Bengaluru's commuters seem to be riding the wordplay wave-literally.