Buggies, Bikes, and Horses

By Kevin Williams

Change is coming slowly to the hills of Holmes County, Ohio. The traditional closed-roof horse-drawn carriage is by far the preferred vehicle of choice among the Amish for transportation. But spring weather brings out more variety. There are more bicycles on the roads than their used to be. And local officials have worked hard to convince the Amish to pay more attention to safety on the roads. Many Amish cyclists are now wearing neon green reflective vests, orange safety flags, and some are even wearing helmets now. Here are some photos of different ways the Amish are getting around in Holmes County, Ohio, the nation's largest Amish population.

Open carts like this being driven by two young Amish men in Mount Hope are common once warm weather arrives!

I did see some Amish his youth riding horseback on this week. This young lady was riding horseback north of Berlin. I'm doubtful she's Amish as the clothing doesn't quite fit the typical attire, but there are plenty of other Plain churches in the county that co-exist harmoniously with the Amish.

This Amish family was out on bicycles. The man velcroed a strip of neon green safety cloth onto his ankle before mounting his bike. The little tyke is in a tiny trailer hooked to the mother's bike.