There are apps I elected to not use, based on time limitations or redundancy. Also, I didn’t need to go to the airport.

Strictly for black cars and taxis, ZTrip (3.5 rating in the Apple App Store, with eight reviews) offers no social link or PayPal during registration. Surprisingly, it has one of the clunkier registrations. Pricing is higher than the other players, but nothing to complain about. That already-regulated taxis and black cars (with livery licenses) are being used could be of comfort to riders not into being seen in – or in the company of someone driving – a Hyundai Accent.

Tride, ScoopMe, and InstaRyde all have respectable interfaces and rider setups. But in attempting to use each, I got wait times of no less than 15 minutes, worse than Get Me. With InstaRyde, I could never get a ride confirmed.

Then there are the taxi companies ($2.40/mile, $0.48/minute, plus a $2.10 base) and even Austin’s Capital Metro system offers a van-pooling service, featuring different monthly rate packages according to vehicle size.

This article appears in June 24 • 2016.

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Kahron Spearman is a journalist and writer with bylines including The Austin Chronicle, Austin Monthly, Consequence of Sound, Texas Highways, and the London-based journal The Break-Down. He currently serves as Senior Editor at Atmosphere TV.