Taxis are obsolete
I remember the days of standing in downtown Chicago, hailing taxis to no avail. If I was with a woman, I'd lean against a building as she flagged down a cab. Cab drivers would pull over for a woman, and I'd wait until she had one leg in the car before I rushed to get in. The driver would be irritated, but by then it was too late. It was a terrible game being played, with the driver trying not to pick up Black males, and me already knowing I wasn't a preferred customer.
Living on the South Side of Chicago didn't help with driver relations either. Taxi drivers would refuse to take us to where we needed to go, telling us it was too dangerous. Imagine having to give a Hyde Park address, then walking home to 63rd from there. Yet there was nothing we could do about it.
Uber is the answer. Once I learned of how Uber works, I stood and applauded. Input your location and destination, and minutes later, a car pulls up, completely at your service. No lingering body stench, no unwanted music, and no racism. Uber will take you anywhere, and being an Uber driver helps out a lot of underemployed people.
Friday evening, a clean Toyota Tundra showed up to our hotel to drive me and my two female relatives to the French Quarter. Being slightly tipsy, I started a conversation with the driver, Jacques. Jacques is an unemployed structural and mechanical engineer, who's travelled around the world, been divorced twice, and lost his stock options when his company went belly up. He refuses to take a job which won't pay him what he's worth, because he feels he'll never get back to where he was. I understand bro. Uber is how he makes his bread, plus it keeps him from being depressed. Keep on pushing Jacques.
Desiree was our second Uber driver of the night. She is of Belizean descent, a single mother, and she works in a cubicle at a marketing firm from 9 to 5. We learned Desiree has lived in 5 other cities in the U.S. but she hates the snow. We discussed the different types of dough for empanadas, and a few other topics. Uber gives her something to do when her children are with their father. I see you Desiree.
In all of my years of riding in cabs, I maybe had a conversation with one or two of them. The majority of the time, their stench or attitude made for a miserable ride. No matter what city, the drivers were all much the same. Assholes.
My last driver Friday was Muhammad, a Jerusalem born go getter. Muhammad introduced us to new music, which was appreciated, as well as explaining the intricacies of the French Market, where he operates a fresh produce stall. He's a student as well, and Uber helps with everything he's attempting to do.
After Muhammad dropped us off, we stood there talking and laughing for a few minutes, thinking of the differences between traditional taxi cab drivers and Uber drivers. I'm sold on Uber.
Betamax, VCRs, CDs, newspapers, they are all extinct or endangered. As a Black man, who couldn’t get a taxi, I can see the writing on the wall. Uber and Lyft have given consumers more options. With no regrets or nostalgia, Rest in Peace traditional taxis, we don't need you anymore.
msh
