A short history of the cab
A hansom cab was an early answer to a familiar question: how do I get across town, on my terms, with a little more care? That idea still feels right in Austin.
Researched by the Hansom editorial team
Last reviewed
Why Hansom
The name is a nod to a better pace: direct, considered, and made for the people inside the car.
Joseph Hansom patented a light, two-wheeled carriage designed to move quickly through crowded city streets. Its low center of gravity made it nimble, while the enclosed cabin gave passengers a little privacy.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Hansom cabThe first public hansom cab appeared in London. A passenger could hail one from the street, agree to a regulated fare, and get moving without arranging a carriage house in advance.
Source: Henry Charles Moore, Omnibuses and Cabs (1902)Hansom cabs became part of the urban nightscape: a distinctive roof, a glowing lamp, and a driver perched high behind the passenger compartment. They were practical, personal, and unmistakably local.
Source: The History of London: Hansom cabsThen / now
Hansom is for evenings out, early flights, everyday errands, and the moments when getting there should feel like part of the plan.
We are starting in Austin: a city that knows how to move at its own pace and still make room for a good conversation.
Austin, Texas / Pre-launch