LA isn't a high-density area - it's very spread out, with lots of low-medium density housing.
How is Uber doing in LA, I wonder? Just watching it here on HN, you could be forgiven for thinking it was SF-only (due to the demographics of the site)
The LA metropolitan area may not have as high a density as SF, NY, or Chicago, but that's primarily because it's several times the geographic size of those metropolitan areas and includes lots of uninhabited space. Many parts of LA are just as dense as similar areas of SF, NY, or Chicago.
Te type of customers who would use Uber in LA live in the high-density areas (generally K-town, Hollywood, West LA, and DTLA), and Uber does well in those areas. For anyone living in the low-medium density areas, i.e., the suburbs, Uber simply isn't economical.
I lived in Santa Monica, which wasn't too high density, but I recall that taxi prices were absolutely outrageous. Hopefully Uber has caused those to drop some.
How is Uber doing in LA, I wonder? Just watching it here on HN, you could be forgiven for thinking it was SF-only (due to the demographics of the site)