A Rapido bike taxi driver in Mysuru (Karnataka) has come under fire over allegations of using obscene and abusive language against a woman while talking on the phone.
The incident reportedly took place in Kuvempunagar, where the woman had booked a Rapido bike ride. Sharing her unpleasant experience through a video on social media, she questioned passenger safety and the behaviour of bike taxi drivers. The discussion is about monitoring drivers working with app-based transportation platforms more strictly.
The woman claims she booked a Rapido bike taxi through the company’s app, but the driver marked the ride as ‘Arrived’ without calling her or telling her he had reached the pickup location. Confused by the status update, she tried to contact the driver via customer support on the company website, expecting him to call and explain why he had marked himself as arrived without making a phone call. But allegedly things went from bad to worse.
The woman told him he had arrived at the location but then came back without completing the ride. She asked him why he hadn’t called her if he had actually reached the pickup point “You should have called me right away, sir,” she is said to have told him. Instead of answering professionally, the driver allegedly started using obscene and offensive words. The woman said his language was recorded in the phone call she made, and she posted it on social media explaining what happened.
The woman was hurt because she had booked a transportation service and expected basic courtesy and professional behaviour from the driver. She was upset with how she was allegedly treated during the interaction and said women should be careful while using bike taxi services.
In her social media video, she also told other women not to book two-wheeler taxis but to choose auto-rickshaws or cabs instead, citing personal safety reasons. Her warning has brought out the need for women to feel safe when they use app-based transportation services, especially when travelling alone.
The video has also raised questions about ride-hailing companies’ responsibility to ensure that their registered drivers behave in a manner appropriate to their role. Passengers rely on these platforms not just for convenient transportation but also for a reliable and secure travel experience.
Verbal abuse, inappropriate behaviour or failure to communicate with passengers all point to poor complaint-handling mechanisms. Companies providing bike taxi services should take complaints seriously; investigate reported misconduct; take action against drivers if violations are established. Communication between drivers and passengers is also key so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings and uncomfortable situations.
Meanwhile, the incident has also called for police to take note of the allegations and investigate them properly. Police are being asked to look into the recorded conversation, identify the driver and establish the circumstances around it. If the allegations are true, then legal action should be taken under the law.
The woman’s social media post has once again put women’s safety in app-based transport on the agenda. Until the allegations can be independently established through an official investigation, they are not yet facts, but the incident is a reminder that passenger complaints about abusive behaviour must be taken seriously and acted on quickly. Women using online transportation platforms deserve respect, clear communication and safe travel.
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