Bike taxis operate by charging passengers for short trips between specific points, despite using vehicles registered as private, non-commercial ones.
Recently, the number of bike taxis in Coimbatore has significantly increased. Many educated youth, both full-time and part-time, have taken up this work due to a lack of employment opportunities. However, this has negatively impacted the income of auto-rickshaw and call-taxi drivers.
To demand a ban on bike taxis, members of the Coimbatore District Drivers’ Association, along with call-taxi and tourist taxi operators, staged a one-day hunger strike in Sivananda Colony on January 22. Over 500 drivers participated in the protest.
Tourist car drivers expressed concerns that bike taxis offer unsafe travel for passengers. They highlighted the lack of insurance coverage for both the driver and the passenger in case of accidents.
Drivers also alleged that while bike taxis initially advertised low fares, they now demand additional payments, exploiting customers.
Many drivers, who have invested lakhs in buying vehicles, acquiring permits, and maintaining their taxis, are facing severe financial hardships.
They warned that if the government does not take appropriate action to resolve this issue, they will refuse to renew their permits and surrender them instead.
