Chariot, SF commuter shuttle, temporarily shut down, fails inspections
SAN FRANCISCO (Nicolette Stewart/KTVU) - San Francisco commuter shuttle, Chariot, has temporarily shut down service, due to failure to pass some safety inspections by a city regulator.
Users of the app that allows commuters to hail a 14-person van to take them to work from their home on specified routes received notification this morning.
“We are working to resolve this matter as quickly as possible using appropriate legal processes, and will provide updates to our riders as soon as we are able” said Chariot in an email they sent out to its customers.
After three separate failed safety inspections, and advising by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that this would happen- continuous unsatisfactory ratings resulted in an order from the CPUC , for Chariot to suspend their services.
Chariot apologized for the inconvenience and also noted that they complied with all regulatory orders “even when we [Chariot] disagree with them.”
After receiving a request from the CPUC, California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate Division Safety Unit, will initiate a re-inspection of Chariot services on Friday.
CHP says some of the the shuttle drivers did not have valid Class B drivers licenses, which are required to drive a bus.
UPDATE: KTVU received the following statement from Chariot on Friday.
Chariot is committed to providing our customers with safe and reliable service. We also are committed to complying with government orders even when we disagree and using appropriate legal processes to resolve them as expeditiously as possible. Therefore, even though Chariot service is in full compliance with all regulations and we disagree with this order, we have complied with the order to suspend service. We commit to our customers that we will work to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and will provide updates as we are able.