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‘Walking may be faster…’: Commuters lament over Bengaluru's traffic on social media

Bengaluru commuters continue to express frustration over worsening traffic after the recent ban on bike taxis, which has increased reliance on private vehicles.

Updated on: Jul 8, 2025, 14:13:49 IST
By , Bengaluru
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Commuters in Karnataka capital Bengaluru are once again voicing frustration over worsening traffic conditions, with average speeds in peak hours dropping to a staggering 5.5 km per hour — barely faster than walking pace. The criticism, amplified on social media, paints a picture of daily gridlock, insufficient traffic management, and a growing sense of urban fatigue.

Bengaluru traffic: A user shared a snapshot of his GPS, which showed 31 minutes travel time for 2.8 kilometres. (X)
Bengaluru traffic: A user shared a snapshot of his GPS, which showed 31 minutes travel time for 2.8 kilometres. (X)

“Welcome to Bengaluru where the average speed in rush hour is around 5.5 km/ hour. You would literally be better off walking. Traffic cops are busy on phone, least bothered about gridlocked junctions,” the post read.

It amassed over 2,000 views and 60 likes at the time this article was being written.

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See the post here:

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Social media reacts

“You would not be better off walking because there are no footpaths to walk on. Also, pray every time before crossing roads,” a user wrote.

“Got this on whatsapp just now,” another replied, attaching a meme which read, “Buying a vehicle in Bangalore comes under housing loan. It is an immovable asset.”

“Well yeah...except that they have dug up have the sidewalks and pavements that even walking isn't a safe mode of transport these days...so yeah,” a response stated.

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The traffic nightmare comes on the heels of a controversial state-wide ban on bike taxis, which previously offered a flexible and affordable option for commuters to navigate the city's congested streets. The move, which has faced pushback from urban mobility experts and commuters alike, has led to a noticeable surge in private vehicles and auto-rickshaw demand, further slowing down traffic.

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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