These days modes of transportation are quite vast. When talking about going places within a city or state, there is the economic-friendly bicycle, the motorcycle, the private cars, some buses, the traditional cabs, and now, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, to name a few. Once upon a time, you had to hail a cab from the curb, or call for a cab or town car if you want to get spared from the hassle. Now, hailing a cab is easier done through a mobile app, although the first two options are still always readily available. Oh, how lifestyle evolves to adapt to the latest technological innovations.

There have been a lot of hoo-has in the universal taxi industry where traditional cab drivers complain about the unfair treatment the Chicago taxi companies get as compared to the privileges ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft receive. There has been a legislative discussion on the so-called war between universal taxi establishments and the emerging rideshare insurgencies where it seems that the former may be fighting a battle they are bound to lose.

Most Chicago citizens have become ‘traffic cops’ wherein they can easily jot down on a piece of paper some information of a cab they did not like and phone 311 to report it. This could lead to the cab company or driver paying fines and court costs. Rideshare cars usually do not have any markings, stickers or whatnot that could differentiate them from private cars, so ‘traffic cops’ wouldn’t easily get to them and take advantage of them.

Traditionally, taxicabs have become an institution that deemed to be permanently part of the urban life, until rideshare services and innovations entered the picture. It is true that rideshares can offer utmost convenience to its customers, with all the information (driver’s information, vehicle type, estimated time of travel, etc.) readily available with just a swipe of your finger. Paying wouldn’t even be a hassle since you will be charged via your credit card (details of which will be asked from you before booking a ride) and a receipt would be sent via email (credit brittany). Probably the only problem with this would be that fares would be subject to surge pricing, which usually happens during peak season or in the case of bad weather.

With this kind of technological innovation available to consumers nowadays, there is no doubt that the traditional taxi industry is in shambles. More than that, most cab drivers feel that they will eventually lose their jobs as their profession is slowly becoming extinct.