This design sketch shows a horse-drawn omnibus—a shared carriage that transported multiple passengers along regular city routes. By the 1880s, omnibuses were the backbone of urban transportation for working people who couldn't afford private carriages. Brewster & Co., a prestigious New York coach builder, designed elegant vehicles for both wealthy clients and commercial operators.
You're stepping up into a wooden carriage that smells of varnish and leather. Six or eight neighbors jostle beside you on bench seats as the driver cracks the reins. The wheels bounce over cobblestones, and you grip the overhead rail, watching the city roll past the windows.
Reflect
How do you feel when strangers share your personal space during your commute?