The Karnataka High Court on January 23 allowed bike taxis to operate legally. The court directed authorities to register bikes as transport vehicles and give contract carriage permits under the Motor Vehicles Act. The decision came from a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi. They overturned a single judge’s April 2025 ruling that had stopped services of Uber, Ola, and Rapido bike taxis. The single judge had said the government must first notify guidelines, but the division bench gave the government freedom to add extra conditions when issuing licences. Transport technology companies Uber, Rapido, and Ola had appealed against the earlier ruling. They argued the government cannot deny registration or permits to two-wheelers under the law using a policy excuse. The government claimed it was a policy decision not to allow bike taxis. They pointed out that Karnataka had withdrawn the Electric Bike Taxi Scheme in 2024. But the companies said that withdrawal was political, not based on studies. They cited law and order problems with auto and cab drivers and lack of safety measures. A woman commuter told the court bike taxis are safer and cheaper for women, especially for last-mile travel in Bengaluru. In August 2025, the division bench had asked authorities not to harass individual bike taxi owners. This ruling now clears the way for bike taxis to run in Karnataka legally, strengthening this fast-growing transport option. Published - January 23, 2026 10:46 am IST