With Uber & Lyft Prices Surging, Are Taxis Making A Comeback?

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By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com

With surging Uber & Lyft prices, there is another option available for people seeking a ride from the airport, to or from a concert, event or a bar. Taxis.

Yes, the long-standing, pre-Uber mode of transportation is making a comeback. Taxis are now lining up again in front of hotels, at conventions and other traditional places where they once ruled the hop-in-and-ride world.

In fact, Los Angeles just entered into a partnership between Yellow Cab and Uber, which have combined operations with Los Angeles Yellow Cab’s five taxi fleets in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. New York City and San Francisco have similar arrangements.

Now, when you call for an Uber, a taxi may show up to give you a ride, so don’t be confused. Several drivers are doing double-duty and, according to Uber, are making 25% more than by being stand-alone taxi drivers.

This is good news for riders because it gives people another choice to get a ride in certain circumstances. If taxis are lined up at a hotel, airport, event or bar and the Uber or Lyft fare is too expensive, then people have a third option to compare prices. Once taxis become even more prevalant (again) then you can hail them down rather than on waiting (and waiting) on a driver via an app.

Uber, and then Lyft, came about because of the high prices chaged by cab companies. It’s somewhat ironic that cabs are making a comeback because of the same situation with the rideshare companies.