> No, in what are now surge pricing situations, you used to usually simply not be able to get a cab at all. A tiny fraction of the time you'd get lucky and get

> No, in what are now surge pricing situations, you used to usually simply not be able to get a cab at all. A tiny fraction of the time you'd get lucky and get a cab, maybe after waiting on a street corner for an hour trying to hail one. But usually you just wouldn't get anything. This does not line up with my experience at all. I see some of the worst surge pricing at non-peak times of day when it used to be easiest to get a taxi. This is most pronounced during the small hours where it's now nearly impossible to get a car. Even during peak times you'd call the taxi company and they'd give you an estimate of how long you'd be waiting. Peak times are fairly stable and most people are sensible enough to phone ahead of time to reduce the wait.