Which Is More Evil: Uber or D.C.'s Old Taxi Zone System?

The New Year is a time for reflecting on one's past, preparing for one's future, and moaning over one's ride-hailing charges in the here and now. As it happens, this year, Uber telegraphed its stratospheric surge-pricing plans so far in advance of New Year's Eve that it curbed demand for Uber services while attracting many more Uber drivers than usually appear on the road.

Sure, some passengers never got the memo. In the final balance, though, it may have been the Uber drivers who lost out. Despite the way the additional transparency measures "backfired" on Uber (and Lyft), critics are nevertheless still asking whether surge pricing is ethical. San Diego State University law professor Dan Eaton even wonders whether surge pricing on New Year's Eve compares to price gouging during a state of emergency.