While I understand the labor-oriented objections to “ride-sharing” services, you know what? What customers really get out of sites like Uber is a convenient mobile app, an easy way to pay online, an assurance that someone is actually on the way to come get them, and relatively quick service in urban areas.

In Cleveland, the cab companies never did (and still don’t do) ANY of these things, and it’s not “the sharing economy” that’s stopping them. Their management simply didn’t bother because (they thought) they had a captive market and (they thought) the old ways were good enough.

Cab companies are getting beaten badly because they’re poorly managed and they suck at the ONE THING they’re supposed to do: coordinate safe, efficient, timely rides for strangers.