Baku taxi drivers learning English as European Games near

By Jamila Ibrahimova

With less than 400 days left to the inaugural European Games to be held in Baku next year, preparations in Azerbaijan for this big sporting event is in full swing.

Bakudaily conducted a small poll among taxi drivers to find out how prepared Baku’s transportation system is for the games. 

The government started upgrading public transportation in the capital before the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. The city got rid of old marshrutka mini-buses.

While the use of Soviet and Russian cars as taxis was restricted, thousands of iconic London cabs were brought in to raise the quality of taxi service.

The city authorities also organized English classes for taxi drivers. 

Ali Mammadov, who works for a private taxi company, says he and fellow taxi drivers attend English classes, which are free.

“I think these classes are very important,” he says. 

Etibar Valiyev, 58, who also operates a London cab, says he is too old to learn a foreign language. 

“Our company organizes English courses for all drivers for free. But look how old I am. I too would love to learn English and tell foreigners something about Baku. But at this age, I can hardly learn English,” he says.

Another taxi driver we interviewed in Baku said he is using his car to feed his family but he does not have the license from the transportation authority. The man said he will stop doing the job before the games start.

Our survey showed that most of the taxi drivers in Azerbaijan's capital are happy to learn English to improve the quality of service during the European Games. But we will see in less than 400 days how well-organized these classes are.

Bakudaily.az