Seattle taxi drivers attend charm school classes

WE’VE all encountered some pretty shocking taxi drivers. But now one city is tackling the problem with an old-school solution.

A New York City Taxi comes down 2nd Avenue in New York on July 10, 2014. The battle between ride-sharing and traditional taxi service is heating up in New York, with a new rival for ride-seekers declared illegal even before launching. Lyft, a ride-sharing service that operates in 60 US cities and competes with the likes of Uber, announced plans to launch Friday in the city boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, claiming these communities are "vastly underserved" by existing transport options. Lyft said it had recruited 500 drivers in the Big Apple and that 75,000 New Yorkers had downloaded its mobile application ahead of the launch. The municipal agency said in a statement that Lyft "is unauthorized in New York City" and has failed to comply with safety and licensing requirements. AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY

SOME Seattle-area taxi drivers are trying charm school as a way to improve their customer service and fight off competition from other ride services.

KOMO-TV reports about 130 drivers from Yellow Cab sat in a classroom Tuesday to listen to hospitality management instructors from South Seattle College. The four-hour program focused on connecting with customers, leaving a good impression and dealing with complaints productively.

One of the region’s major cab companies, Yellow Cab, asked the college to design the class in response to competition from smartphone app ride services like Uber and Lyft.

Cabbie Paul Cheema says he and his fellow drivers want to show customers they’re trying to make a change in the industry.

The class costs $60. Another is scheduled for Thursday, with more planned if reviews are favourable.

Originally published as Seattle taxi drivers attend charm school classes