Bike taxi platform Rapido, announced the introduction of ‘Rapido Back Shields’ as an added safety measure. The shields will be worn by the drivers during rides preventing any contact with the customer on the pillion seat.

Keeping the recent pandemic in mind, the new shield is a first of its kind safety measure by a bike taxi player in the country. Announcing the new initiative, Aravind Sanka, co-founder, Rapido, said, “Safety of our customers is of prime concern to us. We want them to feel safe and assured whenever they use Rapido. From using masks, sanitisers and ensuring regular checks, now we have worked on an innovative back shield that will act as a protective gear that will further increase the safety of our rides.”

It is a lightweight, PVC board that will be attached to the driver’s back like a rucksack. The shield will cover the driver's body and will make for a considerable distance between the rider and him. The company has conducted test ride with the shields in cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jaipur involving 800 vehicles.

The test run included testing the aerodynamics of various materials to build a shield with the right size and quality
that is compact and comfortable for the rider and minimises touch points for the customers
during the rides.