ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – Local cab drivers complain they’re losing business to “courtesy cars” that a large church convention is using to shuttle its members around town.

The Church of God in Christ confirms it’s using at least 200 courtesy cars to pick up members from the Airport, or whisk them from hotels to the America’s
Center.

“I don’t think the cab drivers need to feel that they are left out,” said the group’s business manager, Bishop Drew Sheard, “They just need to understand that this is the culture of our church.”

Sheard says “for decades” the church has been using the courtesy cars in several cities around the country to transport delegates during conventions.

But cabbies are complaining that it’s no blessing to them.

Church of God in Christ delegates walk past taxi

“It cuts into our business quite a bit,” said cabbie Brian Dew, parked across from the convention, “As you can see we’re sitting idle.”

Others in the cab industry here complain that the church’s courtesy cars are allowed to park in no-parking zones at Lambert Airport, and that church members
are going into the terminal to lure delegates into the courtesy cars before they get a chance to hail a cab outside.

The church group says the rides are free, but passengers are allowed to tip.

Copyright KMOX Radio