It’s an interesting point. In my experience traditional taxis are just as bad as ride-sharing taxis, and their ability to use bus lanes means they usually end up driving 80km/h+ through the city rather than be stuck in traffic.

I have noticed that drivers of car sharing schemes (where you pay per minute) are a bit eratic at times though. I’m not sure if that’s because they are inexperienced drivers, or just the mentality of “I need to rush, this is costing me money!”.

Where are traditional taxis allowed to drive in bus lanes?

edit: Googling turned up that this seems to be a thing in at least San Francisco, London, Dublin, Wellington (NZ), Sydney, and a few smaller UK cities.

Yes, it's that way in Sydney where I live. I remember loving it getting a taxi to a job interview.

I always thought, if you are rich don't bother with a car & chauffeur just get a taxi everywhere, and get their faster.

In vienna, austria taxis can use buslanes.