Why not just hop on a bus then? How is it different?
It comes to you within a couple of minutes when you call it, instead of having to wait for the next bus. Which can be around a half hour or worse in the US outside of the cores of cities.
It goes directly where you want to go, instead of going vaguely near your destination and stopping every three blocks for passengers.
Cargo can go in the trunk, rather than get hauled onto the bus by hand and fight for space with passengers when the bus is full
It is also kind of a social experience in Spain, since many times I would meet people from the University and chat up with them (also I am in an large student group that I started so I know a lot of people). The buses are normally really lively and just fun to ride.
Lastly I am happier knowing that I am using a not-so-contaminating bus instead of my large old car, and that in doing so I am helping even if a bit to make public transportation use more common. While this is not so convenient, making me happier about this is for sure part of the user experience. Also I realize that it's a drop in the bucket, but every bit matters.
But the truth is that it comes down to price vs technology. Right now the price of taxi (or Uber) doesn't make economic sense for students or Spain, and the technology is not there yet in terms of automation and parking is a major issue here. So bus is more convenient for many people. Also it frees up a lot of time if you would drive instead (which is also a major point for me taking up the bus) as I would read in the train or review some notes.
Edit: I also have to point out that once I took a bus in USA and it was probably one of the worst experiences in my life in transportation; it smelled like s*, people were staring rudely at us all the time while filling many more seats for no reason at all, it was super slow in a really bad street, the bus came really late and the driver was totally unhelpful and just plain rude.
Edit: I really want to add that I detest uber and the like for attempting to kill local businesses replacing them with lower quality cheaper services.
Uber in no way replaces local businesses with lower quality cheaper services. In most markets it is replacing corrupt monopolies with a higher quality product. In the other markets it is just a higher quality product.
Uber cars are cleaner and have working air conditioning / heat
If you have a problem you just give the trip a bad review and someone follows up and actually does something about it (typically a refund)
You get emailed a receipt with everything you need to get reimbursed by your company instead of handed a blank card that you have to fill out yourself and hope your company believes.
In many markets there are a lot more Uber cars than taxis so it is much quicker to find one.
You don't have to hassle over paying with a credit card, no "the machine is broken" excuses.
Etc etc. I would never ride in a taxi again if there was Uber everywhere I went. Without question.
And also to point out that the main effect of uber is to shift responsibility to drivers and government. Replace licenced, trained and properly contracted drivers (paying retirement and health insurance payments) and fully maintained and insured cars with untrained, uninsured and precariously 'employed' drivers, which gain no long term safety for sickness and retirement and use their own cars which may or may not be well maintained, and where they bear the complete business costs and responsibilities.
It's fully and completely exploitative, that's why it's cheaper.
For the user experience much works better, that doesn't make it a good company and certainly not healthy. The cost you save you'll pay back in taxes that have to cover drivers that fall into poverty, or when you have an accident and find your driver was not properly insured. YMMV depending on city and country, but the exploitation of the 'sharing economy' is just painfully obvious and it's your personal choice to support this.
Buses are also great if you have a stroller. Or are in a group.
Most buses (at least where I live) are wheelchair accessible.
From a utility standpoint, if I have to stand then there are 30 or more others in the same bus. That corresponds to 20+ individual cars. The high density lines go every 10 minutes, with an accordion bus. Assuming worst-case standing is frequent then there's something like 60+ people, meaning that one bus is equivalent to at least 40 cars.
Bearing in mind there's already other street traffic.
In other words, the worst case scenario for a bus means that the worst case scenario for the alternative leads is more street congestion.
BTW, I don't know how much you use the bus, but the driver does more than just drive. People ask "is this the bus to X?", or "could you let me know when I've reached Y?" If someone is running for the bus, the driver will sometimes wait a bit. (I've done all of the above.)
I've been on a bus where the side door didn't close. The driver didn't notice it, and started driving away. The passengers told the driver of the problem, who stopped the bus and closed the door manually.
The driver also kicks off people who are too disruptive.
Or wait until the cyclist mounts a bike on the front bike rack before getting into the bus. You wouldn't want an automated bus driving away with someone's bike on it, but without the person inside, would you?
I imagine this would be similar.
Off-topic but am wondering if this meant that you've waited for an Uber for 20+ minutes? I live in SV so there's always an Uber within 10 minutes, was just curious if drivers would really go 15+ min for a ride.
If I had to guess, why it is found in third world countries, not in first world countries, I would point to cost of labour and energy.
It matters if the driver is paid 3$/hr or 20$/hr, and if the petrol is 2$ or 7$ per gallon.