[reading-at-work]

> At the end of the day Uber/Lyft will be just another taxi company, albeit with a less professional set of drivers.

What city do you ride taxis in? Because the taxis I've ridden have spanned a range of tolerably annoying to downright abysmal experiences. Uber/Lyft drivers have unequivocally been more friendly, punctual, and professional. No taxi company I've seen can manage to make a halfway decent app or even guarantee that a driver will show up within an hour of me needing one.

Even if Uber/Lyft become the same price as taxis, I'll take Uber/Lyft any day over a traditional cab company.

[cbmuser]

I‘m always surprised when I read such statements because I never made such poor experiences with taxis in Europe or Asia.

I think what you are describing is a problem that is very US-specific and it doesn‘t mean taxis are that bad everywhere in the world.

[chrisseaton]

I've taken taxis in many European cities. It's universally a miserable, sketchy experience.

European taxis are the absolute worst for trying to wiggle out of accepting your credit card. Ever time I get in a European taxi I know I have a fight on my hands.

[joefourier]

It depends on the country and city - here in Ireland the taxis are almost always a class act. My local taxi company allows payment via smartphone and even sends you the invoice via SMS or email if you need it as a business expense. I've even had a driver turn off the metre and show me around once he realised I was new to the city.

And tipping, although appreciated, is not at all mandatory like in the states.

[mseidl]

German taxis are great.

[chrisseaton]

In my experience they get evasive and rude when you try to pay with a card.

[mkolodny]

The most universal issue with taxis around the world is safety. How do I know whether a taxi driver is going to take me to my destination, or drive me to an alley and mug me?

Apps like Uber are a major safety improvement over taxis. If I get out of an airport and need a ride, I can either hop in a taxi and pray I get to my destination safely, or I can take an Uber and have a paper trail of who picked me up and where I went.