Basically this. I love Uber, and even in places without dysfunctional taxi cab regulation they have their niche, but the sentiment of "I never want take a cab again" is pretty much relegated to places like San Francisco, Beijing and Bangkok.
I don't see Uber taking over in Singapore and Stockholm they way they have in San Francisco.
Seriously, it sounds like this guy doesn't understand how to take a taxi.
Call a taxi, they'll give you an ETA of when they'll arrive. At the same time, ask for a flat rate to the airport including tolls (airports are typically flat rates from most cities), and whether or not they accept your method of payment. Or, if you're hailing a taxi on the street which typically takes a minute or two in any major city, ask the driver before you get in for a rate, and see if he accepts your card.
I've taken taxis in a dozen different countries around the world, and I never remember a taxi that was particularly dirty. I took three rides with strangers last weekend, and 2 of the 3 I had to move papers, books, bags, etc off their seat before I had room to sit down. They also had papers on the floor, and the odd empty bottle rolling back and forth under the seat. I don't mind either, but on average I find taxis to be cleaner.
Sure you can rate a taxi. The first thing I do when I arrive in an untrustworthy city is checkout taxi reviews. There are always companies that will charge you 2 or 3 times the typical rate because you're not from the area, but at the same time, there are always a couple reliable businesses that people swear by, and you save their number, of watch for their taxi when waving them down on the street.
I travel light and find the train's advantage is actually greater in rush hour (sure, you might have to stand, but you won't get fouled up by jams like the taxi would). But yes, point taken, if you've got lots of bags it's less appealing.
There's very little "technology-enabled disruption" needed to have a pleasant taxi experience. Perhaps a change in the culture, yes, but that's a bigger challenge.
Except Uber is livery cars, and these have been around for ages. People regularly take them to the airport. The only difference is Uber handles the booking and billing via app instead of over the phone.
NYC cabs are well regulated and work just fine, they all accept credit cards and will take the route you ask for. If I feel like paying more for a more plush ride, fine, I can use a livery but otherwise $25 to LaGuardia is a good deal.
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[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 44.9 ms ] threadI don't see Uber taking over in Singapore and Stockholm they way they have in San Francisco.
Call a taxi, they'll give you an ETA of when they'll arrive. At the same time, ask for a flat rate to the airport including tolls (airports are typically flat rates from most cities), and whether or not they accept your method of payment. Or, if you're hailing a taxi on the street which typically takes a minute or two in any major city, ask the driver before you get in for a rate, and see if he accepts your card.
I've taken taxis in a dozen different countries around the world, and I never remember a taxi that was particularly dirty. I took three rides with strangers last weekend, and 2 of the 3 I had to move papers, books, bags, etc off their seat before I had room to sit down. They also had papers on the floor, and the odd empty bottle rolling back and forth under the seat. I don't mind either, but on average I find taxis to be cleaner.
Sure you can rate a taxi. The first thing I do when I arrive in an untrustworthy city is checkout taxi reviews. There are always companies that will charge you 2 or 3 times the typical rate because you're not from the area, but at the same time, there are always a couple reliable businesses that people swear by, and you save their number, of watch for their taxi when waving them down on the street.
1. Use app to find time of next train.
2. Walk to station.
3. Pay reasonable-cost, fixed fare using ticket machine.
4. Train takes me to airport.
5. Arrive at airport with one quarter of the carbon emissions (source: http://www.beagleybrown.com/planes-trains-or-automobiles-car... ) and without having screwed up the city further with the land take required for one-person transport.
No-brainer for me, but YMMV.
NYC cabs are well regulated and work just fine, they all accept credit cards and will take the route you ask for. If I feel like paying more for a more plush ride, fine, I can use a livery but otherwise $25 to LaGuardia is a good deal.