Uber to me is reliable, it's cheaper and it's safer. I couldn't count the number of times I've ordered a taxi that just didn't show up (presumably they took a more profitable fare elsewhere), rude drivers, drivers that speed without any kind of accountability. You complain to the taxi company and they couldn't really care less.
Instead of embracing change, taxi companies are clinging to their lobbyist and broken ways. Look how well that turned out for the music industry when they tried to fight digital music and streaming... It's the same situation happening all over again. Uber and Lyft will eventually win, it's only a matter of time.