Transportation Prior to the Model T
1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash
Public Transport
Before 1893, no gasoline-powered automobiles were on U.S. roads.[1] . For the most part, large cities had electric streetcar systems and subways for inner-city travel. Most other travel was mainly conducted by horse and buggy.[2] For long trips, railroads and waterways were the main source of transportation for all people. In Europe, inventors were developing the framework for the automobile, including the first gas-powered vehicle meant to run on the road.[3] Bicycles were becoming widely popular, leading to the development of steam and electric-powered horseless carriages available at the turn of the century.[4] The first successful American gasoline car was built by Charles Duryea in 1893.
Downfalls in Transportation
Much of the reason automobiles were not a main source of transportation at the time was because the road quality was unfit for the primitive automobile technology. Before Henry Ford began constructing automobiles in 1903, about 800 cars were on the road in Detroit, and other manufacturers were hard at work producing expensive and slow cars.[5]
Before 1893, no gasoline-powered automobiles were on U.S. roads.[1] . For the most part, large cities had electric streetcar systems and subways for inner-city travel. Most other travel was mainly conducted by horse and buggy.[2] For long trips, railroads and waterways were the main source of transportation for all people. In Europe, inventors were developing the framework for the automobile, including the first gas-powered vehicle meant to run on the road.[3] Bicycles were becoming widely popular, leading to the development of steam and electric-powered horseless carriages available at the turn of the century.[4] The first successful American gasoline car was built by Charles Duryea in 1893.
Downfalls in Transportation
Much of the reason automobiles were not a main source of transportation at the time was because the road quality was unfit for the primitive automobile technology. Before Henry Ford began constructing automobiles in 1903, about 800 cars were on the road in Detroit, and other manufacturers were hard at work producing expensive and slow cars.[5]
