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California shuts down pricey private SF bus service
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A state agency has shut down a luxury commuter bus service that some say spotlighted the gap between wealthy tech workers in San Francisco and everyone else.

Leap, which charged $6 a ride between the tony Marina District and downtown San Francisco, announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that buses would go offline “at least through the end of this week.”

The California Public Utilities Commission informed Leap in a May 11 cease-and-desist letter that the company had not satisfied certain requirements for operation, such as getting liability and workers’ compensation insurance. The company also failed to request safety inspections from the California Highway Patrol, as required.

PUC spokeswoman Constance Gordon said Leap can resume service once it meets requirements.

Leap’s big blue buses offered cold juices, fancy coffee and free Wi-Fi. Fans said they preferred the roomy buses over public buses, which cost $2.25 per ride but can be unreliable and overcrowded at peak times. Others criticized Leap for failing to accommodate disabled riders, including passengers in wheelchairs.

Chariot, a competitor, shuttles commuters via passenger vans that circulate over five routes in San Francisco. Chariot continues to operate.