“Transit desert” isn’t a term most people would use to describe New York City, but those who live in Brooklyn and some parts of Manhattan might beg to differ. For commuters in these underserved parts of the city, a new Chariot awaits.
Ford’s Chariot Shuttle launched in NYC this week with two pre-planned service areas. The shuttle, which holds 14 people, takes users from the Lower East Side to Midtown or Greenpoint to Dumbo for a flat rate of $4 — $1 more than it costs for a single ride on the subway. All users have to do is check the app for commuter routes, reserve a seat and meet at the pickup point.
To say this launch is timely is an understatement. Currently, MTA service disruptions run rampant, and the looming closure of the L Train becomes more threatening every day. While the app only has two pre-planned routes, users have the ability to create more through crowd-sourcing. If there’s enough demand for that route, it will be created, with shuttles sent to that destination.
“Our mission at Chariot is to provide reliable, safe and affordable transportation for as many people as possible,” CEO Ali Vahabzadeh said in a statement. “We want to connect people more easily to where they want to go — whether they need help making it to a transit hub or live in an area underserved by public transportation.”
New York City is the largest market for Chariot, but not the first. The shuttle service currently operates in San Francisco and Austin, and plans to have 60 of its cars on the road in NYC by the fall.
Image via Shutterstock.
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