Ola and Uber have almost simultaneously launched bike taxi service in Bangalore.
Ola and Uber have almost simultaneously launched bike taxi service in Bangalore. The service is set to become one of the most affordable ways to get around the city. It comes with the same features as booking a cab like instant booking, cashless payment, GPS tracking and sharing ride details with friends and family. Uber and Ola will be providing helmets for the pillion riders.
The service aims to be a very affordable way to travel and will cut travel time and congestion in metros
Uber is charging a base fare of INR 15. Every kilometre is charged INR 3 and every minute is charged INR 1. The minimum fare is INR 15. As of now, it is available only between 7 AM and 9 PM only in certain areas. The service will be extended slowly. The service has been called uberMOTO. The company says that the bikes used should not be more than six years old and they also say that the new service is mainly for short trips and provides last mile connectivity.
In contrast, Ola is offering their services at an introductory price of INR 2 per kilometre and INR 1 per minute. The minimum fare is INR 30. The service is available in Bangalore and will slowly move to other cities. The service is called Ola Bike. Riders will be given a disposable cap and mask to maintain hygiene. Ola has deployed 500 bikes initially.
All pillion riders will be provided with helmets for safety and it is a rule for pillion riders to wear a helmet in Bangalore
Uber and Ola have launched this bike taxi service to help decongest the metro cities. The service will be a very affordable way to travel around and will also cut commute time. Hopefully, the initiative kicks off and the service becomes widespread with more vehicles and moves to other cities as well.