With not enough cash and a blocked credit card, it was proving impossible for Bharat Khandelwal, Co-Founder of Now: Ride or Deliver, bike taxi service, to hire a cab to get to his desired destination in Jakarta, where he had gone for a vacation last summer. Just then, a helpful passerby suggested he took a bike taxi. This was the first time Khandelwal had heard of it. Though he took one sceptically, the ride proved to be faster than an auto, and cheaper than a cab, and got him where he needed to be right on time. When he came back to India, he wanted to offer the same convenience through his bike taxi company to the people of this city. Today 6,500 customers have benifited from his service.
It also proves to be a one-stop solution for all local delivery. “It is an endeavour to eliminate last mile connectivity issues of daily commuters, and offers horizontal delivery solutions to hyperlocal businesses,” says Khandedwal. His partner Vivek Pandey takes us to the ground where many of the bikes are parked, and adds, “The chief design of the company is based on a differentiated and sustained business model, which is looked after by highly skilled and experienced personnel in multiple departments like product, logistics, data science and business development.”
With investment from the Jaipurias, there are very few women riders making a booking. To address the same, the founders are going to introduce a women’s bike fleet soon.
Another such service provider is Rapido, with its operations only in Gurgaon for now. This app-based bike taxis service, just like Now, is one of the swiftest, most cost-effective ways of commuting. “More than 60 per cent of the working population changes three modes of transportation services while commuting on a daily basis. We want to provide a convenient, reliable, economical solution to travel short distances,” says Aravind Sanka, its co-founder, adding, “There are 20 million unemployed people in India and our target is to reduce the number by offering them means of livelihood while also turning them into entrepreneurs.”
At present Rapido has 50 bikes across Gurgaon and the number is set to touch 500 over the next two months. Costs:
Rs 15 + 5 per kms for Rapido, and Rs 20 for a two kms ride for Now.