Bengaluru Bikers Protest Ban on Airport Road Elevated Corridor from September 4

Bengaluru Traffic Police have announced a ban on two-wheelers and passenger autorickshaws on the International Airport Road Elevated Corridor starting September 4, sparking pushback from daily commuters and the city's biking community. The 24-hour restriction covers the stretch between Sanjeevnagar Cross and Vidyashilpa Junction, where traffic authorities have directed riders to use the service and parallel roads underneath the flyover. Motorists violating the ban will face a fine of Rs 500.

Police officials cited recurring safety issues, accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic management challenges as the primary reasons for barring smaller vehicles from the elevated corridor. Similar curbs are also being enforced on other major elevated stretches across the city.

Tensions over the move escalated when more than 400 motorcyclists heading toward Terminal 1 along Airport Road for a rally called "Last Ride" were intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force personnel. The intervention followed an official ban on bike rallies across multiple flyovers and road stretches in Bengaluru, after which police issued warnings and conducted an awareness drive explaining the restrictions.

Two-wheeler users argue that a blanket exclusion unfairly impacts lakhs of commuters who rely on motorcycles and scooters for everyday travel. Urban strategist Vinod Jacob questioned the infrastructure priorities, asking, "Are roads and flyovers being designed around citizens' needs, or are citizens being forced to adapt to infrastructure decisions made without a proper mobility plan?" He urged the city to avoid a car-centric model and instead implement lane discipline enforcement, reasonable speed limits, and stronger safety measures.

Commuters echoed concerns about being unfairly blamed for road risks. Sonali Mukherjee, an IT employee and biker, noted that unsafe drivers exist across buses, cars, trucks, autos, and bikes, suggesting authorities focus on stricter RTO regulations and tougher driving tests. Two-wheeler user Ganesh Prasad pointed out that accidents stem from behaviour and negligence on any road, warning that banning two-wheelers for safety reasons sets a precedent for excluding them from every street.

The traffic department has also instituted restrictions on other major corridors. The BGS Flyover on Mysuru Road is closed all day to heavy goods vehicles and all other goods vehicle categories, including three-wheeler goods autorickshaws. The Peenya Elevated Corridor restricts passenger and goods autorickshaws during peak windows from 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 10 pm daily, while the Double-Decker Flyover between Silk Board and Ragigudda bars medium and heavy goods vehicles during those same peak hours.