• Source:JND
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Rapido Parcel: In a creative yet controversial move, ride-hailing platform Rapido has found a way around Karnataka’s ban on bike taxi services by rebranding its offering as a “Bike Parcel” service. While the name suggests a logistics solution similar to Borzo or Dunzo, the reality on Bengaluru’s roads tells a different story passengers continue to be ferried, only now disguised as “parcels.”

Rapido, once popular for offering quick and affordable bike taxi rides across major Indian cities, including traffic-heavy Bengaluru, came under regulatory fire due to safety and licensing concerns. The Karnataka High Court subsequently imposed a ban on bike taxis but Rapido’s latest workaround has rekindled the debate on enforcement and innovation in India’s transport sector.

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Passengers or Parcels? Netizens Reacts

The newly introduced “Bike Parcel” service appears to be a thinly veiled workaround, with many users continuing to book rides under this label. The loophole has triggered a wave of reactions online, blending humour and criticism in equal measure.

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

Another quipped, "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."

Even Uber seems to be following suit, having quietly launched a similar “Motor Courier” feature, which users claim functions just like a traditional bike taxi service in disguise.

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Commuters Still Rely On Two-Wheel Rides

Despite regulatory pressure and court orders, bike taxis remain a preferred choice for thousands of commuters in Bengaluru thanks to their convenience in navigating the city’s infamous traffic. The rebranded services by both Rapido and Uber have exposed a legal grey area: are these services technically violating the ban, or simply innovating within the rules?

So far, the Karnataka government has not issued a formal response on whether these renamed offerings comply with regulations or breach the intent of the court’s ruling. Meanwhile, Rapido continues to operate, and passengers or "parcels" continue to be delivered to their destinations.