Citation

Suzuki PT. Transp. Res. A Gen. 1985; 19(4): 337-347.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0191-2607(85)90069-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although there is an extensive literature on taxis and taxicab drivers, this is not the case for jitneys (gypsies). After a definition of "vernacular" is provided, the paper proceeds with an overview of vernacular cab operations in five American cities: Chattanooga, Chicago, New York, Omaha and Philadelphia. The overviews are based on library research, interviews and the participant-observation method (as jitney driver in Omaha). An overwhelming number of vernacular operations are in the hands of blacks; a few, in New York City, are run by Puerto Ricans. After the overviews--or ethnographies--are presented, the paper concludes with a discussion that touches on why these cabs are de facto taxis, the validity of "vernacular" as a term for the cab systems reviewed, why there has been a neglect of the vernaculars as a research topic, and the importance of vernaculars for policy analysis.