Chariot expands in S.F. and eyes Seattle, London, Toronto

Commuter shuttle service known as Chariot is adding routes at San Francisco and also thinking to expand notationally or internationally. They are starting to provide rides from Potrero Hill and planning to cover the area up to the Sunset District until the end of July and other Bay Areas by the end of 2017.

The company also planning to add Seattle under their service area and for this they are recruiting new drivers. Chariot is adding the staff for the marketing, management, sales, and operation departments in Los Angeles and New York. Also, looking to hire general managers in Toronto and London.

The company has disclosed their expansion plan in January. According to a spokeswoman, “Chariot is exploring several markets in the longer term. It also operates in Lake Tahoe and Austin, Texas.” And the Potrero Hill is the very first area for their service expansion.

Chariot’s CEO, Ali Vahabzadeh said, “Chariot is looking to double the number of routes it serves in the Bay Area this year. The company has long solicited route ideas from prospective riders and allowed them to sign up for proposed routes. It has now introduced a refined version of that route-proposal tool on its app and website.”
He also added that we are considering routes in Fremont, North Bay, and San Jose just looking for the approval from regulators to take commuters between counties. We will offer free rides to people who start campaigns to bring Chariot into their areas.

The Municipal Transportation Agency of San Francisco is looking for the guidelines to regulate Chariot and other services like it in future. In the Citizens Advisory Council, the agency said that they needed a private transfer vehicle permit for Chariot to have a review on its routes, fees, stops, and other administrative penalties.

Chariot is offering training to their drivers and allowing to request for a wheelchair ramp for people with physical disabilities. To understand the impact of this service on SF transportation, it will be monitored.

Vahabzadeh believes Chariot can help feed people into public transit. A smartphone and credit card is required and the cost per ride is $1.50. Hopefully, it would be a better alternative among other services.

2016 S-Class Mercedes: