I think convenience is a big factor. With Uber you can press a few buttons in the app, be swiftly picked up, taken to your destination, and continue on with min

I think convenience is a big factor. With Uber you can press a few buttons in the app, be swiftly picked up, taken to your destination, and continue on with minimal fuss. With public transit you must figure out the best route, wait for the next scheduled pick up, usually make multiple stops between your pickup and destination, and likely arrive much later than if you took an Uber.