Buggy styles can vary across the hundreds of Amish settlements in North America. Here are a few that you may not have seen.
This is not an Amish Taxi, it is an unmissable Byler Amish buggy.
The Byler Amish are located northeast of Altoona, in Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania.
The Nebraska Amish buggy is also seen in Kishacoquillas Valley. Unlike most Amish buggies, the Nebraska buggy has no protective front. No “windshield”, just open air.
Nebraska Amish are among the most conservative of all Amish groups. Nebraska Amish live in just a few places, Kishacoquillas Valley and in a small community in northeastern Ohio.
A Renno Amish buggy, also in Kishacoquillas Valley aka Big Valley. Amish in Juniata County drive buggies of a similar style. The Renno Amish are a minority group found in just four settlements.
You may have seen black buggies in other communities, in Ohio or Indiana. Typically those buggies have tapered sides, distinguishing them from the Renno buggies.
The classic Lancaster grey-top buggy. Amish in two other communities, Cecil County, Maryland, and Charlotte County, Virginia, also drive this style.
The Dover, Delaware Amish buggy. Notice the difference between this and the black Renno buggy above. The Dover buggy is bulkier, with curved-in sides.
Amish in the Dover settlement at Halifax County, Virginia also drive this style. Dover-affiliated Amish are found in 16 locations across America.
When we think of Pennsylvania Amish, we typically think of the Lancaster County gray buggy. The Amish at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania use a distinctive brown-topped vehicle. New Wilmington Amish and their spin-off groups are the only ones to use this color.
A Swartzentruber Amish buggy passes by in Wayne County, Ohio.
Swartzentruber buggies lack both an SMV triangle and a storm front.
An Old Order Mennonite carriage for zipping around the neighborhood. Old Order Mennonite communities can be found in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and other places.
The Ashland Amish use grey reflector tape to outline a safety triangle. An orange reflector is located in the center of the tape triangle.
Amish in certain so-called “Swiss” communities use a distinct style of buggy. Swiss carriages are always open-top.
Buggies come in a variety of styles and designs, with different names depending on the community. The vehicle above, which we might think of as an “Amish pick-up truck”, is designed for hauling bulky items.
This large wagon is used to transport church benches between Amish homes. Amish do not hold church services in separate buildings, but rather in the basement, shop, or barn of a member’s home.
The church wagon hauls both pews and hymnals. Church services are held every other week.
Amish adults sometimes ride in pony carts as well. Since no driver’s license is required, sometimes very young Amish children pilot pony carts.