Should Bike Taxis be Banned? Part 2
Previously, the teen writers were brought upto speed with details of the ban on bike taxis in Karnataka. This week, they debated on the subject- Should the ban stay?
A recent High Court ban on bike taxis in Karnataka on account of lack of proper regulations in place has caused much inconvenience to many commuters. Service providers such as Uber and Rapido hoped that with the Central Government including regulations in the Motor Vehicles Act to cover bike taxis might change things in Karnataka. Public transport being a state subject, the final say lies with the Karnataka State Government which has not moved in the direction of doing the needful for the ban to be lifted.
As per the law private transport vehicles such as bikes cannot be used for public transport. The reason is that public transport vehicles need to meet certain regulations that includes safety measures, background checks and insurance coverage.
While those are important parameters to meet, bike taxis especially in a congested city as Bangalore have been a boon to many commuters especially for covering short distances between two modes of public transport such as the bus stops and the metro stations. A lot more economical than the autos and cabs, several commuters have been hailing bike taxis on a daily basis.
Debating the issue through role play
The teens played the roles of key members of a team helping the Karnataka Government to arrive at a decision. In the process, they analyzed different aspects of the matter to arrive at a suitable conclusion.
For the ban
2 wheeler riders tend to be more rash and not follow rules.
they tend to go on pavements.
generally speaking not safe at all- insurance companies will find reasons not to pay.
possible harassment for both men and women
cabs and autos are much safer.
Women will feel safer..(interestingly women commuters have appealed to the High Court asking to lift the ban, emphasizing the fact that they have felt safe using these taxis and find it convenient too.)
helmets for pillion riders- sharing helmet?
bike taxis may not always be a reliable low cost option.
cab allows for a panic button use on the phone but on a bike? the possibility of losing the phone is real.
Against the ban
the ban has resulted in a lot of inconvenience to people who were relying on the bike taxis.
cab has a ventilation problem. keeping in mind the driver's welfare, they may not be able to roll down windows all the time as many customers might insist upon it. (opposing team argued that cab drivers must be allowed to take breaks.)
bike taxis are easier to park + maintenance is easier.
quick commute option for many people.
mostly students use these bike taxis- a more affordable option- without it will be a major strain on their finances.
anti-consumer
let the public make the choice- if they want to use it, let them.
the public is being exploited by auto drivers + lack of comfort
trusted service providers- there is a sense of safety.
How about enabling this?
Commuters must be able to ask for proof of permit.
After a heated debate, the consensus appeared to lean towards lifting the ban especially considering that it benefits many people, especially students.
In the bigger picture, of course there are likely to be a lot more aspects to be considered which may or may not be revealed in the news. Our discussion is entirely based on what is available in the news.
Every week at the Young Writers’ Club (a writing club for teen writers), we catch up with interesting news, discuss, analyze and have invigorating discussions. This article is part of the weekly newsletter that is sent to the members of the club.
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