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Comment by reading-at-work | Hacker News Reader

> 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.

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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.

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.

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.

German taxis are great.

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

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.

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