I agree it's a very important problem no doubt, but Uber aims to solve it in an exclusive way. Exclusive in that it requires the user to be wealthy and technically proficient enough to own and operate a smartphone. Further Uber, from my understanding, is under no obligation to serve all communities. If an area isn't as profitable as they like they can ignore it.
If a person's _primary_ concern is making mobility more accessible and affordable for _everyone_ especially the most needy then doing that by improving public transportation systems(buses and rail) and systems that are regulated by the governments(New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission). Those systems are obligated to serve the entire public.
The third party service described in the article seems to no longer exist. Though if you look through there support information you can find that you can go to m.uber.com to request a ride. https://help.uber.com/h/b9dc6681-b346-4774-9ab1-ecaa3f22cabe
I still think my point that it requires upfront wealth and technical proficiency is still valid when related to public transportation systems.
Source of your information? Are you saying that over 2.32 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water? That seems way off.
Even though there may 2.32 billion people with smartphones there are large percentages of people who don't even in developed countries. For U.S.in 2015 folks who make less than $30k a year 50%. Folks older than 65 27%. Folks between 50-64 54%. Even if they own a smartphone that doesn't mean that Uber would be accessible to them.
If a person's _primary_ concern is making mobility more accessible and affordable for _everyone_ especially the most needy then doing that by improving public transportation systems(buses and rail) and systems that are regulated by the governments(New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission). Those systems are obligated to serve the entire public.