Leap Transit
Leap Transit was a private transit provider in San Francisco, California, which offered bus service for several months in 2015 before being shut down due to noncompliance with regulations.
The company began operations in May 2013, running shuttle buses between San Francisco's marina and financial districts. The service was run with a single chartered 36-passenger bus, owned and operated by the charter company. Leap operated briefly in 2013; the company later characterized it as a "beta test" before obtaining more financing.
The company launched full operations in March 2015, operating four full sized buses, refurbished with new interiors. About $2.5 million in capital for its operations was provided by venture capital companies Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, and Slow Ventures, as well as an investment by Marc Benioff. Buses traveled only during morning and afternoon commute periods on ten to fifteen-minute headways.
On May 20, Leap ceased its operations after the California Public Utilities Commission issued a cease and desist notice to the company, saying that it had been operating without permission from the authority, and had not provided proof of insurance, workers compensation and compliance with driver testing. The company had been granted an "authority to operate," but not a license from the state; Leap said that it believed it was operating legally, as its service did not leave San Francisco and therefore full under the purview of city regulations. The city, however, said that it had given the CPUC regulatory authority.
On July 15, Leap filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy, and two of its buses were listed for public auction in October.
