Sorry, Taxis: You're History

Dear taxi driver: Am I talking to you? Yes, I'm talking to you

Sorry, I bet you get that a lot. But a reference to a 1970s movie seems appropriate because that's where the whole unaugmented cash-based taxi system will ultimately belong: in the past. Cashless, cardless, carefree ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are the future, whether you like it or not, because they remove so much pain from what has long been a painful experience.

Your protests against the launch of these services in major European cities Wednesday, where you clogged major arteries like bad cholesterol, simply made you look more petulant, aggressive and luddite than you already appear to be. You'd think after reports of Lyft drivers being attacked by gangs of taxi drivers, you'd want to engage in some kinder, gentler protesting. Not exactly shedding the Travis Bickle stereotype, are we? Read more...