India, Jan. 8 -- A Bengaluru resident's first-hand experiment with bike-taxi work has sparked fresh online debate about whether gig platforms can realistically supplement income in the short term.

Posting on Reddit's r/Bangalore forum, the man documented his experience of working as a Rapido bike taxi rider for four days. In the post, he laid out a detailed account of the hours he spent on the road, the money he earned, and the costs he incurred, offering a rare, transparent look into the economics of part-time gig work.

He said he logged roughly four to five hours a day, mostly during late-night slots after 10 pm, when Rapido offers a 20 per cent night-time fare bonus that runs until 6 am. Choosing night shifts, he explained, helped ma...