Just off Michigan’s northern coast, Mackinac Island offers a glimpse into a slower, car-free way of life that has endured for more than a century, the BBC reports.
Home to around 600 year-round residents and an equal number of horses, this 3.8-square kilometer island in Lake Huron has prohibited motor vehicles since the late 1800s, making it one of the few places in the U.S. where transportation still relies on horses and bicycles.
The vehicle ban reportedly began after an early automobile startled horses in 1898, prompting local authorities to outlaw internal combustion engines. The rule was soon extended across the island and remains in place today. As a result, horse-drawn carriages handle everything from waste collection and deliveries to passenger transport, giving the community its distinctive rhythm and charm.
Each summer, about 1.2 million visitors arrive by ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace to explore the island’s trails, Victorian-era architecture and shops selling its famous homemade fudge. When autumn comes, most of the horses return to the mainland for the winter, leaving a small number behind to maintain essential services.
About 80% of the island is now protected as Mackinac Island State Park, where visitors can hike, bike or ride horses to natural landmarks such as Arch Rock and enjoy views of the nearby Mackinac Bridge.
Despite being located in one of the most car-loving nations on Earth – the United States of America – Mackinac’s way of life proves that even in modern times, a small community can thrive without automobiles.
Meanwhile, in many other parts of the world, having a car is still either a necessity or a symbol of prestige. In Kazakhstan, a land once known for its nomadic horse riders, for example, car ownership has become widespread, contributing to air pollution and heavy traffic congestion in major cities.
