Transit consultant Jarrett Walker is concerned that Uber and its like could produce results that allows transit options like the bus and rail to wither. He also notes that Uber’s lack of profits should be a real concern because some planners could be basing their future cities on the company’s existence.
It’s time to quit discussing Uber and similar companies as though they were improving the world in a permanent way, and as though they will necessarily make cities better for everyone. We already know that’s not true. Governments need to regulate to expand the opportunities for these companies, but must also respond to threats that they pose.
All this can be done very politely, by the way. Many people who work inside of big companies understand perfectly well how the profit motive conflicts with what you’d do if you were just trying to foster a better city, and many welcome regulation precisely to plug that gap.