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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Bike-taxi ban: Bengalureans' frustration grows
Getting transport during peak time at an affordable rate could make or mar the day for many Bengalureans. Since the bike-taxi ban, it has been the latter for all those who used this option. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For the longest time, this reporter believed all able-bodied people should commute by public transport. It helps combat air pollution and eases traffic congestion. But working professionals who require a neat appearance often face challenges with BMTC buses, many of which have soiled seats and untidy floors. Bengaluru's public bus network also suffers from inefficiencies and inadequate coverage. The metro currently covers only a small part of the city. During peak times, cabs and autorickshaws often refuse rides and charge prohibitive fares. In this environment, bike-taxis came as a huge relief for many. Rising commute costs Dhanraj Aribam, 21, a resident of BTM Layout who is pursuing his undergrad in a private university near Richmond Circle, says his life has been terrible following the bike-taxi ban. 'I spend Rs 400 on my daily commute nowadays. Being a student, I feel the pinch of high commuting costs but there are no better options,' he says. Ishan Sinha, a 22-year-old content curator and design developer in Apollo AyurVAID, echoes similar sentiments. Bike- taxis were his go-to commuting solution for their convenience, affordability, and speed. Ishan says, 'I used to spend around Rs 50-100 daily on bike-taxi rides and they also helped me quickly navigate heavy traffic. Now I end up paying up to Rs 300 daily.' He now relies on a mix of public transport and auto rides, which has increased his overall commute time too. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For women, safety is a huge concern. A post-graduate student in Jain University, who did not want to be named, told us she prefers to commute by bus after the bike-taxi ban came into effect. 'However, buses are too crowded and that makes me feel unsafe,' she says, adding she does not have an Aadhaar card from Karnataka and hence no access to free travel. Sometimes she even cancels plans when the travel is too expensive or exhausting. 'The metro has raised its fares and it's more or less equivalent to autorickshaw rates,' she says. Her pocket money is primarily spent on transportation and meals. She says autorickshaw drivers often demand Rs 100 even for a 1-2 km ride, though the actual fare should be around Rs 30. Transportation, she says, tops the list of her expenses. 'Every time I step out, transportation via autorickshaw alone costs me a minimum of Rs 300,' she says. ORR association promotes buses The Outer Ring Road is home to 26 tech parks, employing around 10 lakh techies. In response to the commuting challenges, the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) is actively promoting public transport use. "We are planning to propose to BMTC to increase the frequency of buses, especially the Vayu Vajra," Manas Das, president of ORRCA, says. Last year, the organisation implemented an initiative called Private to Public, aiming to encourage employees to adopt sustainable transportation methods. VOICE BOX Employees in these tech parks do not use public transport as much as we want them to. They often cite poor first and last mile connectivity as the main reason for choosing to use private vehicles. Manas Das Manas Das, PRESIDENT, OUTER RING ROAD COMPANIES ASSOCIATION (ORRCA) Getting around in Bengaluru has become challenging. Auto drivers are very egoistic, and they take you for a ride. I bought an e-bike recently. It helps me save a lot of money. Joel Daniel Joel Daniel, 20, Lives in Indiranagar On weekdays, I used to travel by Rapido. The commute from my residence at Mahaveer Ranches apartment to my workplace in EGL Domlur would typically cost between Rs 150-170 only. Praveenkumar Math Currently, I rely on my personal vehicle or taxi services for commuting, which proves to be both expensive and requires more time. Praveenkumar Math, 35, IT PROFESSIONAL The bike-taxi ban has substantially raised my transportation expenses. David Kumar Anthonappa The monthly expenditure has gone up from Rs 2,600 to Rs 6,000. David Kumar Anthonappa, ENVIRONMENTALIST This abrupt change has disrupted my routine, making every journey longer and costlier and forcing me to rethink my travel options. Ishan Sinha Ishan Sinha, 22, CONTENT CURATOR AND DESIGN DEVELOPER IN APOLLO AYURVAID Following the bike-taxi ban, the cost of my daily commute has increased from Rs 180 to Rs 300. Sania Anna Ajo Additionally, the extended waiting periods for cabs have made the commute more challenging. Sania Anna Ajo, STUDENT, LIVES IN HEBBAL Bike-taxis were very affordable. I live on my own and for people like me, they were a great option. If any sudden plans come up, I could always depend on bike taxis. They would get booked quickly and I wouldn't have to think about the expenses much. While a ride to Cubbon Park would cost Rs 90 by auto and Rs 30 by metro, followed by a long walk, bike- taxis would only cost Rs 52 and I'd get dropped at the destination. A POST-GRADUATE STUDENT AT JAIN UNIVERSITY (Did not want to be named) Bike-taxis were perfect for beating the city's traffic. Saif Numan They saved me both time and money during my daily commute. Since the ban, I rely on autos or cabs, which are costlier and often stuck in traffic. Daily expenses have nearly doubled, and commuting has become more stressful. Saif Numan, 23, EMPLOYEE IN A PRIVATE COMPANY I now end up spending Rs 200 daily. Rapido bikes were much cheaper, and faster. Malavika Rajesh Malavika Rajesh, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, ST JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY Bike-taxis reduce congestion, making them vital for efficient transit. Instead of an outright ban, authorities should consider measures such as clear taxi branding, mandatory number plate verification, standardised driver uniforms, and CCTV surveillance to ensure compliance and safety. Pramodh Kumar Nadella Pramodh Kumar Nadella, BUSINESS ANALYST, TECH MAHINDRA, ELECTRONICS CITY
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rare photos capture incredible rescue off Australian coast
A mission to save an entangled whale off Australia's east coast has been captured in a series of rare aerial photographs. They were snapped this week as a multi-agency team worked to free the giant mammal as it swam along the NSW Central Coast. Ordinarily, flying a drone within 100 metres of a whale would be illegal because the disturbance can interfere with their migration. But because it was difficult to assess the whale's condition at sea, an exemption was made for a skilled operator from rescue group ORRCA to snap close-up pictures. Images were first taken on Monday so the project's leader, National Parks and Wildlife Service, could assess the entanglement and formulate a plan about how they'd need to manoeuvre around the whale and cut the ropes. 'Then every time they'd do a cut, I'd relay some images back to them to show the changes in the entanglement,' the ORRCA drone pilot told Yahoo News. It was Sunday afternoon when reports from the public were first received about the juvenile humpback being entangled in fishing gear off Sydney's northern beaches. With light fading fast, a decision was made to halt rescue attempts until first light. On Monday, the whale was spotted swimming further north through Pittwater, towards Broken Bay and Umina. NSW Water Police and Marine Rescue NSW monitored the situation from their vessels as teams of rescuers worked to free the struggling animal from a web of buoys and rope. 'The entanglement was around its body, around its tail, around one of its [pectoral fins] as well. Because the mammal was in distress, it was acting quite aggressively,' the drone operator said. 'I didn't know what was actually going on.' 📸 Photo of elusive whale off Aussie coast reveals incredible feat 🚨 Alarming map highlights growing threats to migrating whales 🌊 Carloads of Aussies flock to water's edge as 'exciting' ancient ritual begins Remarkably, as the rescue continued over the next four to five hours, the drone pilot noticed the whale's behaviour was changing. 'It was interesting to watch as the hours unfolded. When they did the first cut, it splashed its tail quite aggressively. But over time, it seemed to realise the rescuers were there to help. At one point, it was just staying in one spot, not moving at all, allowing the boats to come close and move the rope away.' When ropes and nets aren't quickly removed, they can cut into whale flesh or even sever their fins. Because the entanglement was relatively fresh, there wasn't any visible damage to the humpback. Rescuers were unable to remove two small pieces of rope from its body, but they're confident they'll fall off. Fishing net entanglement is a growing problem for whales as they migrate up Australia's coastline. There were two other humpback whales freed from entanglements off the NSW coast earlier this month. In Queensland, they face the added threat of shark nets, which are left to dangle precariously in waters throughout the year, regularly catching inexperienced calves or their mothers as they come in close to shore. In NSW, they are removed during the winter. This Sunday, ORRCA will be hosting its 26th Annual Whale Census, an event where everyday Aussies are urged to head to the beach to witness the annual humpback migration. An estimated 40,000 whales are expected to migrate up the east coast this year. Anyone wishing to participate in the count is asked to register on ORRCA's website and download the app. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
ORRCA volunteer captures rare footage of six humpbacks on a heat hunt in a tiny bay along Shellharbour's coastline
Eight humpback whales on a heat hunt in a small bay along the NSW coastline have been captured in rare footage by a marine mammal rescue volunteer. Ty Peters spends four days a week during June monitoring whales off the Illawarra coast for Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), an Australian not-for-profit dedicated to saving marine mammals. He headed down to Bass Point Reserve in Shellharbour, south of Sydney, about 10am on Monday and witnessed seven males chasing a juvenile female into Bush Rangers Bay. Mr Peters said when female humpbacks are on heat the males chase them and while that is relatively common, what was not common was the bay they swam into. 'We occasionally get one solitary whale going in there and investigating but to my knowledge that's the first time we've ever had a heat run go into the bay,' he said. 'Getting eight whales in that confined bay is pretty wild.' Mr Peters said what the drones did not capture was the incredible noise that came from the whales as they hunted down the female. 'The whales have got a really deep sound and it vibrates through your chest,' he said. 'They exert a lot of energy, which makes them get out of breath quite quick so their sound is deep. 'Then you've got the slapping of the tails and the pectoral fins, imagine dropping your front door just flat onto ground, you get that sound almost like a cannon launch.' Mr Peters said about 40,000 humpback whales swim past Australia's east coast each year, along with southern right whales, minkes, false killers and others. He said they sighted about 150 whales a day if the conditions were right for the huge mammals to migrate north to Queensland. 'If the currents are pushing north then they don't have to do a lot of work, which means they don't exert a lot of energy and don't have to breathe as heavy, they just cruise,' he said. 'If the ocean is flat then you don't get water splashing into the blowhole so they're very hard to spot then, whereas, if they're having to exert themselves a little bit more than they're taking deeper breaths. 'If it's a little bit choppy, then they're doing bigger blows to clear the air.' Mr Peters said one of the best vantage points to see the whales was along the Illawarra coastline and people could help ORRCA monitor the mammals swim past on their 2025 Whales Census Day on June 29 by registering at 'Whales are a protected species so there is 100m exclusion zone around whales for all watercraft and drones,' he said. 'We have quite a lot of problems with people coming in and flying 10ft above them.
Courier-Mail
17-06-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
Humpbacks swim into tiny Shellharbour bay
Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Eight humpback whales on a heat hunt in a small bay along the NSW coastline have been captured in rare footage by a marine mammal rescue volunteer. Ty Peters spends four days a week during June monitoring whales off the Illawarra coast for Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), an Australian not-for-profit dedicated to saving marine mammals. He headed down to Bass Point Reserve in Shellharbour, south of Sydney, about 10am on Monday and witnessed seven males chasing a juvenile female into Bush Rangers Bay. Mr Peters said when female humpbacks are on heat the males chase them and while that is relatively common, what was not common was the bay they swam into. ORRCA volunteer Ty Peters captured rare footage of humpback whales on a heat hunt in Bush Ranger Bay near Shellharbour, about 115kms south of Sydney. Picture: Ty Peters 'We occasionally get one solitary whale going in there and investigating but to my knowledge that's the first time we've ever had a heat run go into the bay,' he said. 'Getting eight whales in that confined bay is pretty wild.' Mr Peters said what the drones did not capture was the incredible noise that came from the whales as they hunted down the female. 'The whales have got a really deep sound and it vibrates through your chest,' he said. 'They exert a lot of energy, which makes them get out of breath quite quick so their sound is deep. 'Then you've got the slapping of the tails and the pectoral fins, imagine dropping your front door just flat onto ground, you get that sound almost like a cannon launch.' ORRCA volunteer Ty Peters said it was rare to see eight humpbacks in Bush Rangers Bay, which is about 75m across at its widest and 200m long. Picture: Ty Peters Mr Peters said about 40,000 humpback whales swim past Australia's east coast each year, along with southern right whales, minkes, false killers and others. He said they sighted about 150 whales a day if the conditions were right for the huge mammals to migrate north to Queensland. 'If the currents are pushing north then they don't have to do a lot of work, which means they don't exert a lot of energy and don't have to breathe as heavy, they just cruise,' he said. 'If the ocean is flat then you don't get water splashing into the blowhole so they're very hard to spot then, whereas, if they're having to exert themselves a little bit more than they're taking deeper breaths. 'If it's a little bit choppy, then they're doing bigger blows to clear the air.' About 40,000 humpback whales swim past Australia's east coast each year, along with southern rights, minkes, false killers and others. Picture: Ty Peters Mr Peters said one of the best vantage points to see the whales was along the Illawarra coastline and people could help ORRCA monitor the mammals swim past on their 2025 Whales Census Day on June 29 by registering at 'Whales are a protected species so there is 100m exclusion zone around whales for all watercraft and drones,' he said. 'We have quite a lot of problems with people coming in and flying 10ft above them. Originally published as ORRCA volunteer captures rare footage of six humpbacks on a heat hunt in a tiny bay along Shellharbour's coastline
Daily Telegraph
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Humpbacks swim into tiny Shellharbour bay
Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Eight humpback whales on a heat hunt in a small bay along the NSW coastline have been captured in rare footage by a marine mammal rescue volunteer. Ty Peters spends four days a week during June monitoring whales off the Illawarra coast for Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), an Australian not-for-profit dedicated to saving marine mammals. He headed down to Bass Point Reserve in Shellharbour, south of Sydney, about 10am on Monday and witnessed seven males chasing a juvenile female into Bush Rangers Bay. Mr Peters said when female humpbacks are on heat the males chase them and while that is relatively common, what was not common was the bay they swam into. ORRCA volunteer Ty Peters captured rare footage of humpback whales on a heat hunt in Bush Ranger Bay near Shellharbour, about 115kms south of Sydney. Picture: Ty Peters 'We occasionally get one solitary whale going in there and investigating but to my knowledge that's the first time we've ever had a heat run go into the bay,' he said. 'Getting eight whales in that confined bay is pretty wild.' Mr Peters said what the drones did not capture was the incredible noise that came from the whales as they hunted down the female. 'The whales have got a really deep sound and it vibrates through your chest,' he said. 'They exert a lot of energy, which makes them get out of breath quite quick so their sound is deep. 'Then you've got the slapping of the tails and the pectoral fins, imagine dropping your front door just flat onto ground, you get that sound almost like a cannon launch.' ORRCA volunteer Ty Peters said it was rare to see eight humpbacks in Bush Rangers Bay, which is about 75m across at its widest and 200m long. Picture: Ty Peters Mr Peters said about 40,000 humpback whales swim past Australia's east coast each year, along with southern right whales, minkes, false killers and others. He said they sighted about 150 whales a day if the conditions were right for the huge mammals to migrate north to Queensland. 'If the currents are pushing north then they don't have to do a lot of work, which means they don't exert a lot of energy and don't have to breathe as heavy, they just cruise,' he said. 'If the ocean is flat then you don't get water splashing into the blowhole so they're very hard to spot then, whereas, if they're having to exert themselves a little bit more than they're taking deeper breaths. 'If it's a little bit choppy, then they're doing bigger blows to clear the air.' About 40,000 humpback whales swim past Australia's east coast each year, along with southern rights, minkes, false killers and others. Picture: Ty Peters Mr Peters said one of the best vantage points to see the whales was along the Illawarra coastline and people could help ORRCA monitor the mammals swim past on their 2025 Whales Census Day on June 29 by registering at 'Whales are a protected species so there is 100m exclusion zone around whales for all watercraft and drones,' he said. 'We have quite a lot of problems with people coming in and flying 10ft above them. Originally published as ORRCA volunteer captures rare footage of six humpbacks on a heat hunt in a tiny bay along Shellharbour's coastline
