With the state government giving its nod to bike taxis (Ola, Uber, and Rapido) in the city, our reporters fan out for a first-hand experience of the plusses and minuses of this convenient commuting option
Rapido rider Siddhesh Kaisare during a ride in Mumbai
With Maharashtra clearing bike taxis and granting licences to Ola, Uber, and Rapido, mid-day tested rides across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai to gauge preparedness.
In Mumbai, riders obeyed traffic rules but skipped carrying second helmets, citing no company instructions and passenger hygiene concerns. Apps offered panic buttons and alerts, but promised features like partition boards were absent. In Dombivli, riders navigated rougher roads without violations but echoed the same helmet issue.
Commuters preferred their own helmets, while riders admitted confusion over insurance, commissions and liability. Despite approval, gaps persist in safety gear, training, earnings, hygiene and legality. With the government fixing a base fare of R15 for 1.5 km, this correspondent tried booking through Rapido, Ola, and Uber. Only Uber offered a working option.
Reporter: Amarjeet Singh
Arrival: 13 minutes
(app showed 3 min; delayed
due to rain/unfamiliar area)
Fare: Rs 28.50 (Ulwe Sector 17 to Sector 19; paid Rs 36 owing to some confusion)
Ride: Rider asked passenger for route guidance to the destination
Helmet: Only one; no clarity on company rules
Concerns: Insurance, commissions, possible police action
Personal: Riding out of “majboori” to pay mother’s hospital bills
Reporter: Shirish Vaktania
Route: Dadar railway station to Mahim railway station
Duration: 11.2 minutes
Fare: Rs 37
Ride: Safe, polite, friendly rider
Helmet: Carried extra, but passengers often refused to wear one over hygiene issues
Personal: Left previous job, full-time with Rapido, sole breadwinner of family
Uber Bike rider on Sahar Road-Bandra East route
Reporter: Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Arrival: Immediate
Fare: Rs 99.97 (DGCA WR Office, Sahar Road to Bandra East)
Duration: 26 minutes, 6.9 km
Ride: Safe speed, followed traffic rules
Helmet: No extra helmet; cited hygiene concerns
Attitude: Courteous, asked if female passenger was comfortable with a male rider
Navi Mumbai
Uber Bike rider Avinash Sawant in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai
Ride 1
Reporter: Amarjeet Singh
Route: Ulwe Sector 17 to Sector 19
Fare: Rs 28.50 (Rs 36 paid)
Duration: 6 minutes
Rider: Avinash Sawant, 26
The rider arrived late, citing rain and unfamiliarity with the route. Sawant had just registered with Uber. “I started this out of majboori. My mother is admitted at DY Patil Hospital, and I need money,” he said. He was using his own bike and helmet, but was unclear about insurance, commissions, and police action. During the trip, he asked the passenger to guide him as he did not know the way. At the end, he appeared confused about the payment process — the app showed R28.50, but he asked how much to charge, so Rs 36 was paid. Sawant was also unaware of hygiene protocols, such as whether helmets should be shared across passengers, raising further safety concerns.
Thane–Dombivli
Ola’s two-wheeler service went live quietly in the suburbs. This correspondent booked an Ola Bike while commuting from Panvel to Thane.
Ola Bike rider Dinesh Junail in Dombivli
Ride 2
Reporter: Shrikant Kuperkar Route: Dombivli East to Gandhi Nagar
Fare: Rs 41
Duration: Noted as smooth and timely
Rider: Dinesh Junail (from Kalyan)
Junail arrived in under five minutes and was upbeat: “This is a great opportunity — people can avoid crowded buses or haggling with autos.” On helmets, he admitted most passengers refuse to wear a shared one due to hygiene concerns. “So we don’t insist,” he said. The ride was smooth with no rash driving. On possible backlash from auto drivers, Junail dismissed the fear: “We’re just earning a living. No bhaigiri here.”
Mumbai
Rapido rider Sahil Shaikh with passenger in Mumbai
Ride 3
Reporter: Shirish Vaktania Route: Mahim Railway Station to Phoenix Mall, Lower Parel
Fare: Rs 84
Duration: 17.2 minutes, 5.8 km
Rider: Sahil Shaikh
Shaikh runs a car service and works part-time as a Rapido rider. “I am earning a good income from Rapido. But Rapido should provide us with uniforms, which would help passengers identify us,” he said. He did not carry a second helmet, citing lack of space. The reporter found Shaikh careful, following signals, and reaching the destination safely. He arrived within 7 mins, called in advance, and politely requested not to cancel the ride.
Rapido rider Praveen Singh with passenger in Mumbai
Ride 4
Reporter: Shirish Vaktania Route: Phoenix Mall, Lower Parel to Dadar Railway Station
Fare: Rs 40
Duration: 8.4 minutes
Rider: Praveen Singh (fish supplier)
Singh supplies fish to restaurants across the city and uses Rapido part-time for extra income. He said he doesn’t need a uniform as this is only supplementary work. The reporter noted that Singh rode safely. He arrived
after 12 minutes due to traffic near Mahalaxmi Racecourse but kept in touch over phone. The app details — bike number and rider photo — matched, and the ride required OTP verification before starting.
Rapido rider Siddhesh Kaisare during a ride in Mumbai
Ride 5
Reporter: Shirish Vaktania Route: Dadar Railway Station to Mahim Railway Station
Fare: Rs 37
Duration: 11.2 minutes
Rider: Siddhesh Kaisare
Kaisare quit his previous job and has been working full-time with Rapido for two months. “If Rapido gives us uniforms, it will create a good impression. I left my job because I’m earning well here. It’s my duty to drop the pillion rider safely,” he said.
His family depends entirely on his income.
The reporter found him polite and safe in riding. Kaisare carried a second helmet, though most passengers refused it due to hygiene concerns.
The reporter also tried to book an Ola bike at Dadar but could not find any riders.
The rider did not want to be identified
Ride 6
Reporter: Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Route: Milan Subway to DGCA WR Office, Sahar Road
Fare: Rs 60
Duration: 15 minutes, 4.8 km
Rider: Uber Bike
This rider jumped a red light once but otherwise rode steadily. He said: “Uber has not given us any specifications about carrying an extra helmet.” He explained riders keep 90 per cent of fare while Uber takes 10 per cent. On a Rs 60 ride, he earns Rs 54.
The rider did not want to be identified
Ride 7
Reporter: Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Route: DGCA WR Office, Sahar Road to RNA Corporate Park, Bandra East
Fare: Rs 99.97
Duration: 26 minutes, 6.9 km
Rider: Uber Bike
This rider followed all traffic rules and was safe. He was courteous, asking this female reporter if she was comfortable riding with a male rider. He did not carry a second helmet, citing hygiene issues. “It would be difficult to maintain hygiene if one helmet is given to all passengers,” he said.
Common observations
>>The apps have a safety button, similar to taxis and autos, which allows passengers to contact police or helplines.
>>The apps also send alerts if a ride appears stuck at the same location for too long.
>>While companies have spoken of installing partition boards between rider and passenger, the reporter found no such facility in place.
>>Though traffic rules mandate pillion riders to wear helmets, both riders said their apps gave no instructions to carry an extra helmet.
>>Hygiene concerns remain the biggest reason why helmets are not carried or offered.
>>During Mumbai rains, drivers said they only get bookings when passengers bring their own raincoats. “We get very few bookings, and mostly from people prepared to ride in the rain,” one rider said.
Guidelines for bike-taxis
The state govt’s new bike-taxi policy lays down strict conditions for operators, covering licensing, safety, design and service norms.
Operators must maintain a minimum fleet of 50 electric two-wheelers to launch services. All drivers must be aged between 20 and 50, possess a commercial licence and PSV badge, and undergo police verification, annual health checks and regular safety training.
Services will be strictly app-based, with no street hailing allowed, and each ride capped at 15 km. Bikes must be painted yellow with reflective “Bike-Taxi” markings, fitted with GPS tracking, and linked to a 24x7 control room. Operators are also required to provide clean yellow helmets to passengers.
For safety, apps must include an SOS feature, and women passengers will have the option to book women drivers. Any violation of the rules can lead to suspension of licence, forfeiture of deposits and off-boarding of errant drivers.
Key highlights
Fleet Requirement: Minimum 50 electric bike-taxis per operator.
Licensing Norms: Licence from the Regional/State Transport Authority; R1 lakh application fee; R5 lakh security deposit.
Safety First: Drivers aged 20–50; commercial licence + PSV badge; police verification; annual health checks; regular safety training.
Service Conditions: App-based booking only; maximum 15 km trip distance; no street hailing.
Design: Yellow-painted bikes with reflective “Bike-Taxi” markings; GPS tracking; 24x7 control room; hygienic yellow helmets for passengers.
Passenger Safety: Women passengers can opt for women riders; a mandatory SOS button on apps.
Strict Compliance: Rule violations can result in licence suspension, deposit forfeiture, and driver removal.
By Rajendra B Aklekar
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
