With the growing rush for an affordable ride to and from destinations around major cities, several forms of transportation were created during the 1800s. The omnibus was a “large, horse-drawn coach designed to transport urban riders over fixed routes for set fares (85, Chudacoff).” But how comfortable can that be- fitting only 12 passengers and sometimes packing in more. The omnibus failed to cover many routes, as its main goal was to cover the most profitable routes. Even with those down sides the omnibus was also catered to middle and upper class riders. So who was being left out?
An upgrade to the omnibus was adding railroads. Horse drawn coaches were now going over rails rather than cobblestones “offering faster, smoother rides… [Enabling] horses to pull larger heavier cars (86, Chudacoff).” As this form of transportation increased and became more affordable they still became a problem for a certain group of people. African Americans did not have easy access to the streetcars. In cities like New Orleans these “all black ‘star’ cars” were created just for African Americans, but they are that the form of segregation excluded them from the white cars and reminded them of slavery. With this uproar they protested government officials, sat in “white cars” and even physically abused the drivers. Streetcars in NYC was integrated in 1864 by the widow of an African American sergeant in the Union in her lawsuit. Unfortunately it was not so easy for the South as Jim Crow laws were implemented formally segregation the public.