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Philadelphia Unveils Electric Horseless Carriage During Independence Day Parade

Philadelphia’s Salute to America Independence Day Parade on July Fourth will witness the debut of the city’s first electric horseless carriage. The inaugural passengers of this groundbreaking vehicle will be City Councilmember Mark Squilla and Janet White, a dedicated activist who has long fought for the removal of horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia in favor of their electric counterparts. The carriage’s introduction follows the recent withdrawal of the city’s last carriage company’s horses from the streets, marking a significant shift in transportation traditions.

Source: FOX 29 Philadelphia/YouTube

As the director of Carriage Horse Freedom in Philadelphia, White expressed her joy and satisfaction at seeing her efforts come to fruition. She stated, “It’s been a lot of work and a lot of people involved, but it’s been a labor of love. I want to present this carriage to the city, saying we don’t need animals working for us to have a good time. This is a viable alternative.”

White aims to establish the electric carriage as a permanent fixture in Philadelphia by the end of 2023. Initially, the public can catch a glimpse of the carriage during the Independence Day Parade on Market Street. However, its usage beyond the parade is subject to final approvals from the state Department of Transportation and ongoing discussions with interested local tour companies.

One confirmed partnership for the electric carriage is with Old City’s American Vegan Center and its Veg History Tours. Vance Lehmkuhl, director of the center, expressed enthusiasm about the carriage’s potential alignment with their history tours. Lehmkuhl noted that the electric carriage would allow them to cover more ground and delve deeper into the history of vegetarianism and veganism, which originated in Philadelphia.

The carriage itself bears the name of Caroline Earle White, a notable 19th-century animal activist unrelated to Janet White. Caroline, a Philadelphia Quaker, advocated for various causes, including abolition, women’s suffrage, and the prevention of animal cruelty. She founded the American Anti-Vivisection Society and played a key role in establishing the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Moreover, White’s efforts led to the creation of America’s first animal shelter, the Women’s Animal Center, located in Bensalem.

Cathy Malkemes, CEO of the Women’s Animal Center, expressed the board’s Support for ending the use of horse-drawn carriages and believed that Caroline Earle White would have been pleased to have the horseless carriage named after her. Malkemes stated, “Anything that helps animals, she would certainly Support. She loved animals. It was 1869 when our organization was founded. That was 50 years before women had the right to vote. She was advocating for animals before she herself had a voice in our democracy.”

The introduction of Philadelphia’s first electric horseless carriage marks a significant milestone in the city’s transportation history, as well as a step forward in promoting animal welfare and sustainable alternatives for traditional forms of transit.

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