Will Uber’s Bike Taxi Services work in India?

Uber has launched a pilot scheme for its first motorbike taxi service in Bangkok. The Uber motorbike taxi will collect passengers from their office or home and get them to their respective destinations. The company is looking to spread this offering across Asia.

Traffic-clogged Asian megacities like Jakarta and Manila might get them soon. Makes complete sense! Motorbikes have long been a popular commuting option, thanks to their ability to spiral through the horrible traffic jams.

"This is the first time we're doing it in any market in the world, so our hope is to develop it and innovate it," Douglas Ma, Uber's head of Asia expansion, told AFP.

"If it makes sense, absolutely we want to look at other markets", he added.

So what about India?
The trouble is, Uber has been facing regulatory hurdles and protests from established taxi operators in most locations in India. Even with their newest offering, the company claims their services will be cheaper than regular motorbike taxis. That has not gone down too well with the old players.

Radio taxi services like Uber and Ola have also locked horns with the Indian government many times.

There are also regulatory challenges with bike taxis in general. The transport officials are yet to figure out the guidelines for the fares, requirements and permits for the drivers, and designated stops for bike taxis.

Efforts have been made to get bike taxis on road in Delhi but the move fell through. The only city that has stepped up and launched bike taxis for commuters is Gurgaon.

Gurgaon even has a two-wheeler taxi service that goes by the name of Bikxie Pink. It’s by women and for women. It was launched on Jan 21 after it was found that women were reluctant to use the service because they were uncomfortable riding behind male drivers and concerned about their safety based on safety concerns and unease with riding behind male drivers.

But Mayank Jyoti, RTO Ghaziabad had told reporters earlier, "We have not given permission to anybody for such service. This is a violation of permit rules."

So that’s what’s standing between Uber India and bike taxis – regulation, and more regulation.

Image credit: Uber