Rapido rolls out bike lift option in Bengaluru with zero commission for riders

Rapido has introduced a bike lift option in Bengaluru that lets riders earn Rs 5 per km with zero commission, promoted through an in-app pop-up. The Deccan Herald reported that industry sources said the aggregator launched the service on a pilot basis in Bengaluru and a few other cities.

How Rapido's Bike Lift Option Works

The pop-up on the app reads, "Own a bike? Save fuel with bike lift". Clicking on "Know more" takes users to a YouTube tutorial explaining how the feature works. The tutorial says users can enter their start and drop locations while travelling on a bike. The app then displays orders along their route, minimising detours for pick-ups and drop-offs. Drivers can earn Rs 5 per km, with zero commission, it says.

The move comes amid an ongoing legal tussle over app-based bike taxis, which remain popular among city commuters for their affordability and last-mile connectivity. In January 2026, the Karnataka High Court set aside an earlier order that had effectively halted their operations, allowing them to operate under the existing legal framework. The state government subsequently challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court.

"There's not much information about this new option out there, but the promotion of bike taxis is important, as many people have the misconception that bike taxis are illegal. That's not the case. Around 200 bike taxi drivers are meeting later this week to work out how to deal with this issue," said Mohammed Salim, president of the Namma Bike Taxi Association.

Rapido declined to comment.

Rapido's Funding and Scale Records

According to akta.pro company records, Rapido's 2026 Series F round was led by Prosus at a $3 billion valuation, with $240 million primary and $490 million secondary. The same records list 18 funding rounds on file and a $730 million total across primary and secondary. Rapido's valuation has nearly tripled in one year, up from $1.1 billion in September 2024 and $2.3 billion in a prior secondary transaction.

Earlier Rapido Moves This Month

On October 16, 2026, Rapido co-founder Rishikesh SR told BW Disrupt the company has expanded from a bike-taxi platform to a broader urban mobility network, growing from about 90 to over 400 cities in 18 months. On October 15, 2026, Moneycontrol.com reported that Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi ordered Rapido to stop its two-wheeler aggregator services in the city for operating without a licence. On October 16, 2026, India Today reported that Rapido permanently suspended a Pink rider after a Bengaluru woman alleged he held her hand and lingered outside her society after a ride.

Karnataka Hearing Set for October 26

A Supreme Court hearing on the matter is scheduled for October 26. "We're waiting for the hearing to figure out the way forward. Action will be taken based on what is decided in court," a senior Transport Department official told DH. The department conducted a fresh crackdown on bike taxis in August amid rising complaints from auto and cab drivers, but the special drive has since been discontinued.