How was life before the automobile?

Answer 1

Let's say it is 1889 and you are living in a fairly large city. Because of problems of getting around most of the stores and houses would be near the city center ( this is why today you still find old houses in many downtown areas of cities) and if you went anyplace you would either walk, ride a horse or a buggy, take a trolly or streetcar, and maybe a boat depending on where you are. You would do all your shopping in a few blocks because it would be hard to get things home and there were no malls or large shopping areas. The new movie house would be within the few blocks and you would walk there to see the lastest silent movie. Getting around was hard before the car came along. If you lived further away from the city on a farm it could take you 2-3 days of riding just to go shopping, another day or two to shop and 2-3 days back home. So, you could be gone from your farm for 10 or more days. ( a person on horseback can do about 10 miles a day). This is what life was like before the car.