Of course it’s better to bring a car seat if you’ve planned your trip especially for babies, and with my older child I’ve been known to strap a booster seat to my backpack for planned trips. Mass transit, walkable communities and cycling are better for mental health and for more sustainable development. Unlike Uber or Lyft, Taxis are considered public transportation so they are not required to use car seats, this makes them a good option for unplanned or multi-leg trips, when you get caught in inclement weather or when you just get exhausted. For many parents in the city, finances are a serious factor due to the cost-of-living, especially childcare for younger kids, so keeping costs down is a major factor in the choice to not own a car.