By Joseph Morales

Trolleys were once a widespread and reliable means of getting around New York City and many other cities in the United States. Trolley lines were once just as widespread as today’s bus routes across cities. Since most Americans in cities took mass transit to work, trolleys had plenty of riders and the companies that operated them often made large profits. Unfortunately for the companies, the rise of the automobile led to cars often blocking trolley tracks and creating congestion which caused delays. According to the Daily News, trolleys were also considered old-fashioned by many due to the noises they made, such as “screeching wheels and clanging bells,” along with their wheels losing traction on icy inclines during the winter. This led to many NYC companies converting their trolley services into bus services and most bus routes run by the MTA today are the semblance of a former trolley line.