Worst cab experience of my life. I would have loved to have Uber available.
One trip from Gràcia to Barceloneta, 5km:
* Metro: 22 minutes, 1,03€ (with a T-10 card, which is the most expensive integrated transport option)
* Taxi: 15 minutes, 8-9€
* Uber: 15 minutes, 4-5€
Also, Barcelona cab drivers are known for driving you around if you look like a tourist. Uber drivers will never do that, since you rate them after the trip.
you make the government the source of all evil. blame regulation, blame the people working in government, don't pay them well. what happens? public service will suck. no one qualified wants to work there. a self fulfilling prophecy.
the people get the government they are willing to pay for, they deserve.
the whole starving the beast rhetoric of the GOP, etc in the US is what ultimately makes the government dysfunctional - outside of Defense of course, the holy cow. if the DoD would be in charge of healthcare and public infrastructure, maybe then there would be progress in the US.
Also, let's reverse your argument -
"you make the free-market the source of all evil. blame a lack of regulation, blame the people working in corporations, regulate their pay as well. what happens? free-market service will suck. no one qualified wants to work there. a self fulfilling prophecy."
i get it in the US, with all those shitty cabs and foreign drivers who don't know their areas, but Europe is different.
Apps like mytaxi.com are closing the payment/booking gap - backed by some powerful companies like Daimler.
Uber-like services are needed in the US where the government is unable to actually do its work due to a culture of distrust and paranoia.
There is no electronic health record, Google could not make it work. Sci Fi in the US. Austrians have had it for years now. Awesomely simple, proven. No startups needed. Also less chances for creating the next billionaires, but maybe it's ok if the rest of the population can enjoy working public services.