Wait, poor people take cabs? Isn't the primary cheap mode of transportation in a large city the bus and train system? That's got to be true for SF and NY at least.

Uber is getting pretty cheap too, regardless. Example: my wife just caught a car to SFO from Berkeley for less than $80, and no tip. That's cheaper than a taxi, friendlier, you can call 10 minutes before you need the Uber, and track it to your door.

A taxi would need to be reserved well in advance, would show up at an indeterminate time, the driver would be indeterminately sleepy, and you'd have to deal with tipping and credit cards. He might be smoking too, and if any of this happened with Uber, you'd leave a bad review. A few reviews, no more driver.

Of course, a person on a budget is going to take BART or a shuttle.

A poor person sometimes needs to go someplace very specific on short notice.

Of course, in some cities the cabs don't go the places they are technically "required" to go -- they give a very long estimate of arrival as a way of getting you to go away. Or don't show up at all. I suspect this varies a lot by geographical location.

I've never had a problem calling a cab to get to SFO, which I've done over 20 times. Calling a cab to get to the airport is probably the least painful cab usage scenario in SF. Uber doesn't do much to improve upon that situation, but does make it about 20 dollars more expensive.

The worst cab situation in SF is trying to find a cab at night, which Uber has greatly improved upon.

Yes, poor people take cabs.

Then they are lucky Uber exists. Don't believe in your purported indirect harm, do believe in downward price pressure, and upward quality pressure.

Well, the legislatures of many cities don't agree with you.

> Wait, poor people take cabs? Isn't the primary cheap mode of transportation in a large city the bus and train system?

Buses and trains, in many cities, don't go everywhere, and don't always run when you need to go, so, yes, poor people take cabs.