There's nothing like competition to get an industry to shape up. 15 years ago, taxis in Pittsburgh were definitely more like GP described.

> Been like that for a long time.

Since before Uber/Lyft?

I'd be willing to bet that "long time" doesn't include pre Uber days

Well.. maybe.. but when that app appeared there weren't yet any Uber drivers in my country. They were considered illegal by the authorities.

Uber did this. Whatever else you think of them, they massively uplifted an entire industry's customer experience, and pretty much globally. That's an insane achievement.

In this particular case I'm pretty sure the taxi app was completely independent. Nobody actually expected Uber around here (and in fact I've yet to see any), and everyone and their mother added app support for their services. They already had a history of adding new ways of getting a taxi, as and when technology became available. And, and taxis in general are connected to a taxi service central it's easier to come up with such a thing.

Ireland is like that but without a decent way to report dangerous drivers or racist rants

With their specific app?

In the last 2 weeks I've used the Uber app in Washington, New York, Miami and Stoke (UK). One app, 4 cities, 2 continents.

The app covers all the various taxi companies around here. It's not international.

That's one problem. I typically need a taxi when I'm in a remote city a long way form home. Uber gives me a common app that works from Sydney to San Francisco. I'm not going to land in Chicago and work out which of the myriad of apps I need to get.

Now if it was instead a website, sure, much easier. No need to create accounts etc, just visit "chicagotaxi.com", perhaps shown on a sign at the airport/station/etc, then book and pay with applepay/googlepay.

But installing some application, signing up, having my data stolen, all to be told "no taxis available", is the reality of a local app.

How is the situation with Uber and insurance these days? I remember from years back that Uber drivers didn't have the insurance that taxi drivers need (though that may vary by country). As one who has actually experienced a car crash involving a taxi (I was in the taxi, but fortunately on the left side in the back seat when another car crashed into its right side), I have a keen interest in insurance..

I suspect it varies by jurisdiction.

In the UK it's a normal private hire company, just less disreputable.

> I'm not going to land in Chicago and work out which of the myriad of apps I need to get.

But big airports have a taxi line. You stand in it, and you get a taxi.

I flew into Washington DC last week, and it was faster to stand in the taxi line than to call an Uber and wait for it to arrive. On the other hand, it was faster to get an Uber back to the airport when I left than it was to catch a taxi.

And of course, certain cities have decent transit systems. Both Chicago and DC (and hundred of other cities) have transit fare cards you can put in the wallet app on your phone. Some, like DC don't even need an account or download. Just add money with the payment card already stored in your phone and go. The experience is better than Uber - assuming the transit system is any good.

I arrived at Miami station last week and got an uber, not one of the waiting taxis, because I wanted

1) Guarantee of payment by card

2) Guarantee of receipt

3) Guarantee of going to the right destination

The week before I landed at Dulles and got an Uber. The queue for the taxis was very long, but the wait for Uber was hardly quick either. Last time I took a taxi in DC they refused to take card. That was pre-covid, but why would I take the chance again.

Taxi companies did it to themselves.

So then it depends on taxi services. I'm not in the US, and all the three points you listed are more than guaranteed by actual taxi companies around here. In addition to that, I also will be made aware of the price in advance.

> Washington, New York, Miami and Stoke

It's about time Miami got some international recognition.

Competition did that.