Very true. You don't even have to leave California to see there's tons of smaller taxis companies besides Yellow Cab. I used to live in Santa Monica and a quick Google Search shows dozens of independent taxis firms (about 3-4 of which I have used to get to LAX). Furthermore - who says that during 'bar rush' prices might not 'surge' so high that a simple 'black cab' ride across town ends up costing you more than your whole evening of pub crawling? It's not like there aren't numerous stories of those around: http://valleywag.gawker.com/470-uber-ride-cost-more-than-a-t...