Omnibus

## Overview

An omnibus (from Latin omnibus, "for all") was a large horse-drawn public transport vehicle operating on fixed routes, the predecessor of the modern bus. Introduced in Paris in 1828, omnibuses became a standard feature of urban transport in major European cities. The shortened form "bus" eventually displaced the original word.

## Description

Key features: - Large enclosed or semi-enclosed body on four wheels - Drawn by two or more horses - Fixed routes with designated stops - Capacity for 12-20+ passengers - Conductor collected fares - Some had open-air upper decks (impériale)

## Social Significance

The omnibus was democratic transport — available to anyone who could pay the modest fare. For the upper classes like Marie's family, taking an omnibus was slightly declassé but not shocking, particularly when traveling to specific destinations. Marie mentions the omnibus both as actual transport and as a humorous metaphor for informal travel arrangements.

The term "train omnibus" was also used for local stopping trains (as opposed to express trains), appearing when Marie travels by rail.

## Marie's Usage

- 1874-06-23 (carnet 020): Horse-drawn public transport - 1877-09-17 (carnet 074): "train omnibus" — local stopping train - 1879-08-13 (carnet 086): About to board an omnibus when Blanc arrives - 1880-05-29 (carnet 088): Joking about hiring an omnibus for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem

## Related Terms

- *Fiacre — hired private cab - Voiture — private carriage - Train omnibus* — local/stopping train