Private transport companies show interest as bike taxis hit the streets

With bike taxis hitting the streets of Rajarhat and New Town on Thursday, several other private transport companies have started showing interest in introducing the same.

 Followed by Gurugram and Goa, Bengal has now introduced the facility, bringing some respite to travellers. Interestingly, Bengal was quick enough to introduce necessary changes, required to use two-wheelers as a public transport, unlike other states in the country. 

All the 21 bike taxis have their registration numbers written on yellow number plates, which is compulsory for commercial vehicles.

 It may be recalled that Bengal was the first state in the country to handover offer letters to transportation technology aggregators that include Ola, Uber and Taxi for Sure on condition of fulfilling certain criteria to ensure passengers' safety and security.

 

While addressing the inaugural programme of bike taxis, Alapan Bandyopadhyay said: "Many other aggregators have started taking interest in plying bike taxis. It started plying in New Town and Rajarhat from Thursday as a pilot project. It will help in creating wider market for the new mode of public transport."  The state Transport department has chalked out a comprehensive plan to ensure a hazard-free bike taxi service and guided the authorities of K Bike Taxi accordingly to create necessary infrastructure.

 There is a cell phone app named Kbiketaxi using which one can book a bike taxi that will be operating only within Rajarhat and New Town. One may also dial a helpline number 9836215551 to book the same. Unlike the app-based cabs, bike taxis can be booked on spot as well. Considering it as a vehicle for last mile connectivity, the fare has been fixed at Rs 20 for the first 

2 kilometre and Rs 5 for subsequent kilometres.

Besides a panic button in the bike taxis, there will also be a similar key in the app that can be used to raise alarm in case of any emergency.

The most interesting feature is that the maximum speed of the bike taxis has been fixed at 40 kilometre per hour. 

Thus, those who are not habituated in riding on motorbikes will not have any trouble in availing the service. There will be an extra helmet in the bike taxi that the pillion rider has to put on while availing the service. Raincoats will also be provided for passengers in monsoon.

Moreover, K Bike Taxi authorities have collected all documents and details of the bike riders. They have submitted the documents to the police so that a rider could be pulled up if there is any "breach of trust" on their part or in cases of misbehaviour with passengers.