But when you call for a cab, they collect your number and location, and since they do this for everyone, pretty soon they have about as much information. And when you pay that single time with a credit card, bam - it all gets connected to a name. Without any privacy policies attached, not even a toothless one.
A taxi company knowing my phone number and location of pickup and location of drop-off is not "about as much information" as having my spacial coordinates and contact list at all times. Not even the same order of magnitude.
Your lament over taxi companies not having privacy policies is kind of odd. First, such policies protect the company, not you. Second, taxi companies have to follow rules, many of which cover privacy, which Uber flaunts.