I have used it in suburbs and I have had totally mixed experiences. Off course Ubwe is better than the status quo cab and mass transit you mentioned. But unless

I have used it in suburbs and I have had totally mixed experiences. Off course Ubwe is better than the status quo cab and mass transit you mentioned. But unless you do not own a car (for whatever reason), odds are that Uber really can't expand into that niche (as largely as was proposed). The only time my friends in the suburbs use Uber is to get between points if they have had a drink (cited in the article). To your point and the article's point, perhaps Uber can displace the older and smaller transportation infrastructures but you still face the issue of physical space. I can move more people per hour, per mile of track on a train than by car. Roads can only be built so wide and long in a given area -- NYC for example. I have been stuck in Uber plenty of times racking a $100+ charge cause of gridlock -- nothing can be done but add roads but we can't pave water. Other modes like trains can go above, on and below ground and coexist with other systems and you can run them more often and with more cars. After thinking more about the point of auto ownership, I think the $9k/annum cost of having a car is pretty steep. My dad who is religious about logging mileage and tracking his car's health from engine to windshield wipers likely would agree too. Car makers can and are reducing the cost curve and price points of their offerings. Furthermore, I am sure they're focused on the on-going safety and integrity of their product given the Toyota and GM recalls. If this is $9k, that for sure will be coming down. If it's truly that cumbersome to maintain a car, what about Uber's cars? Are drivers going to be spending large sums to maintain their vehicles (that likely see more wear and tear given they are cabs)? Who eats those costs... Uber? If not, do they need to pay higher wages or concede some ground to these livery companies to help maintain their fleet? Just something for us to all noodle about-- nothing like good discussion