[lsc]

>Ubiquity and response time matter.

Yes. cabs are useless where I am, too. They say they will be there in 30 minutes, but that's best case.

But there are plenty of unemployed folks with cars. How much of the cab shortage is due to regulatory capture?

Imagine, for instance, an app where I could give my location, a timeframe and, say, an amount I was willing to pay. "Hey, $50 if you pick me up from the office and drive me home... if you get here within 10 minutes"

Such an app is technically easy, and I imagine there are enough people with cars either going where I'm going or simply idle to make it work. But there are... legal barriers in place.