Every Monday, Matthew Eisley faces off against a guest columnist on a topical issue. This week, he debates Raleigh's new cabbie dress code with Dennis Edwards, president of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. First up, Eisley.
New dress code is silly
Raleigh can't get its $30 million water-billing system straight, but, praise be to our city leaders, we all can take comfort in knowing that our next taxicab driver won't be wearing flip-flops.
Sure, he might be an illegal immigrant who speaks little English and abhors America. But at least he won't be in a tank top or short-shorts.
Raleigh's new policy brings to a celebrated end that loathsome and widely reviled plague known as The Poorly Dressed Cab Driver, the bane of all civilized people and enlightened metropolises.
Durham is sure to follow Raleigh's example, though its leaders no doubt will deny it.
Cary, too - if it ever allows taxis. (Kidding.)
Why, every modest hamlet across our great state is certain to look to Raleigh as a beacon of social progress and sartorial splendor!
Raleigh's new cabbie dress code, which the City Council passed unanimously at the urging of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, could inspire other civic improvements of equally revolutionary importance.
For starters, look any day, y'all, for Raleigh's Embargo Against Language Accents.
After that, we can look forward to the city's Prohibition of Perspiration in Public.
And then it's Banning of Breaking Wind.
We hardly enforce our litter laws, noise ordinances or speed limits, which affect everyone's quality of life. But, by golly, our cabbies shall not show too much chest or leg!
Next thing you know, the poor saps will be required to doff their top hats at gentlemen and lay down their cloaks for ladies.
But if a Deodorant Decree is in the works, may I suggest: Start with the stinkin' riders.
Matthew Eisley is editor of The N&O's North Raleigh and Midtown Raleigh News.
Now we'll have consistency and professionalism
About a year ago, I started to review Raleigh's taxicab regulations as part of a look at all the touch points our visitors experience.
I realized that there was no uniform dress code for our taxicab drivers.
We were seeing some T-shirts, tank tops, short skirts and flip-flops. Some of the clothing being worn by cab drivers looked as if it hadn't been washed in days.
We received some letters and e-mails complaining about it from hotels and visitors. When a hotel or a restaurant calls a cab, that's a reflection of its customer service as well.
Many of our visitors are here on business, dressed in business attire.
We don't want to have a couple show up for a play or something in formal attire and have the driver show up in shorts and a T-shirt.
We want to have a more professional look. And we wanted to make sure we have consistent standards in place for all our cabs.
We've had a lot of positive feedback. Most of the cab companies are very supportive. The professional companies realize why we need this. Now those that were not paying enough attention to the condition of their cars or the dress of their drivers will have to live up to what most of them were already doing.
Our visitors don't have the option to let the market figure it out. Our hotels and restaurants don't either, quite frankly.
Visitors don't have the ability to look at the appearance of every driver before they call for service. Instead, they're at the mercy of whomever shows up.
Now we'll have some consistency and professionalism across the board, which is good.
Dennis Edwards, president of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Get the biggest news in your email or cellphone as it's happening. Sign up for breaking news alerts.
