[manfredo]

Do you earnestly think that using a mobile app to pair drivers with riders (and especially multiple riders with similar destinations through pool) doesn't offer any efficiency advantage over driving around burning gas and waiting to be hailed?

On top of that, it's not just lower prices it's also better service. I'm sure there's some people that have their Uber horror stories, but I've had several cab drivers that said some really creepy stuff (stuff that a >6' man like me just kinda cringes at, but I can definitely see it being very uncomfortable for women). It's night and day, Uber/Lyft drives have always had clean cars, didn't pull any route shenanigans, and often had amenities like water and wifi. My only bad experience was when a driver messed up the destination and ended up getting on the Bay Bridge. He apologized profusely, ended the trip immediately on the app (so I barely got charged anything), and drove me to my destination.

While I think it's true that these companies are offering rides at unsustainable rates at the moment, I don't see customers ditching Uber and Lyft for cabs even if prices rise by 20-30%.