[blueplum]

I’d still rather take a cab. Dispatcher on the other end of the radio, auto inspections 2x a year, and background checked and ID’d drivers.And you can tell a taxi from some jerk trying to impersonate an uber.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The reason taxi medallions were so expensive is because the cab companies paid off the politicians to price out startup taxi companies.

[KarlInOhio]

I have never heard of a single, sensible reason why the number taxi medallions were limited so much that their price hit a million dollars. Maybe the city had an argument that taxis have to be in good shape and inspected regularly for safety, but that can be handled by a couple inspections a year - no reason to limit their number.

[ctdonath2]

Start app, enter address, select driver, watch whole process proceed on map, get in, get out, done. Payment automatically reconciled. Works dang near anywhere, with just two apps.

Can’t grasp how “cabs” exist now.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I’m old enough to remember courteous American taxi drivers who happily helped you with your luggage, opened the door for you, and spoke good American English. They had to pass exams showing their knowledge of city streets and could get you to your destination without paper maps or GPS.

Like so much of “the good old days,” that world is gone.

Today I’d much prefer a nice Uber ride. The drivers almost all have very nice, comfortable and late model sedans.

[AlaskaErik]

The last time I rode in a cab it was filthy, it stank, the driver could barely speak a word of English and the radio was blaring some kind of belly dancing “music”. Never again will I ride in a cab. I’ve used Uber and Lyft and have had zero issues with them.

[HYPOCRACY]

The only thing dirtier than a NYC taxi is the home country of the Paki driving it.

[God luvs America]

Once again the idiocy and ignorance of diblasio and left wing NY politicians to the rescue. They scream and cry about globull warming and climate change- so what do they do in this craphole state?? Right- put 150,000 ubers and lyfts on the streets which not only devastates the taxi business but- wait for it- clogs all the streets and highways with exhaust emitting traffic!!!!

[Hot Tabasco]

Back in Dec. of 2016, the cousin of a good friend of mine was attacked by his Uber driver who repeatedly stabbed him. Fortunately the cousin was able to subdue the Uber dude till police arrived.

The reason for the attack was that the driver thought the cousin had dissed his car....(???)

[thefactor]

The NYC taxi medallion business was a huge racket for decades. It was tightly controlled by a few large owners among a small number of independent operators. There was a monopoly and every time a single medallion would come up for auction it would sell for millions. Now they are worth a small fraction of that. Owners who saw the light of Uber changed their business model and have succeeded while those who clung to the old model were left in the dust.