Uber is 1000 times better for transportation than the taxi cartel
Why? Seriously, I haven't used Uber and the last time I rode in a taxi was years ago so I have no dog in this fight. Why did you think Uber is better? Better service? Better value? Or is just that they are sticking it to The Man? I'm legitimately asking because I just don't really see what is so amazing about Uber as a casual observer. Saying they are "1000 times better" is obviously hyperbole but what makes them better if indeed they are better?
I'm in the same situation as you, but from listening to my friends here in Seattle that love Uber so much, they are more expensive than Seattle cabs, but they show up quickly, you can see their status on the phone, they are clean, the drivers have been polite, and will even have things like free bottled water on hot days in special cases. On the flip side, Seattle cabs have a habit of not showing up, lying about having shown up and trying to call you (this has happened to me several times*), have old, dirty cars (all are old cop cars bought at auction), and several people I know have had drivers get angry and yell at them (usually about news such as when something is going on in the middle east).
*This is the primary reason that I have not used cabs in years. Not only do they take forever, understandably that when I want to use them, probably lots of other people do to, but that they will just not show up and lie to the company about it. It creates a pretty bad impression calling the cab company three times over an hour and having them tell you that they driver said they stopped at the address each time but nobody was there and did't answer the phone. Of course, I was on the sidewalk outside my apartment with my suitcase and cell at the time, and no time in that hour did a taxi even drive down the street, let alone park infant of my house. I could see it creating jobs as people who have given up on cabs have taken up using Uber.