U.S. City Where Cars Have Been Banned Since 1800s Giving ‘Bridgerton’ Vibes

Dreaming of escaping to an idyllic island where there’s been no car in sight for over 125 years? Tourists can get a whiff of the fresh, exhaust-fume-free air and experience the throwback feel on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, where automobiles have been banned since the late 1800s.

The unspoiled charms of the city of the same name were highlighted in a viral TikTok video from @zoeeeeeeeezz, which has garnered 3.9 million views since it was posted on June 13.

A message overlaid on the clip says: “Pov [point of view] you’re in the only city in the US where cars are banned and it feels like you’re in Bridgerton,” the U.S. TV drama set in the 1800s.

A caption shared with the post says: “Mackinac Island makes me feel like a princess.”

The footage shows people sauntering along walkways around a tree-lined park, with horse-drawn carriages passing by. In another scene, some women are shown cycling down a roadway under a bright blue sky.

The clip ends with a shot of what appears to be the exterior of the historic Grand Hotel with its lush green lawn, followed by a view of chandeliered hall with a vintage-style stage.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. The video has not been independently verified.

The island has been car-free since July 6, 1898, when horseless carriages were banned on the island, according to the Mackinac tourism bureau’s website.

Among the 4 million miles of public streets in the United States, the M-185—an 8.2-mile stretch of road on Mackinac Island—is the only state highway in the country where motor vehicles are not allowed.

Nestled at the junction of Lakes Michigan and Huron, Mackinac Island is often known as “the crossroads of the Great Lakes.” Its year-round population of around only 500 people rises significantly during the summer months with the arrival of tourists, says the Great Lakes Islands Alliance, a voluntary network of island leaders and advocates.

The car-free island offering plenty of “Old World Victorian charm” is accessible only by ferry boat or plane. “Once on the island, the sounds of horses and carriages are heard throughout the streets, providing a rhythmic calm compared to normal automobile sounds,” says Visit the USA, the country’s official travel site.

Mackinac Island was recently nominated for “the best place to visit for fall” in USA Today‘s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“The vibes are just right on Mackinac Island each fall. Crisp, sunny days with vibrant foliage give way to a slower pace of life in this resort town,” USA Today writes.

Voting is open until September 9, and the award winners will be revealed September 18.

Why Have Cars Been Banned for Over 100 Years?

The first horseless carriage arrived on Mackinac Island via ferry boat in 1898, which marked the first clash between horse travel and horseless carriages, the Mackinac State Historic Parks website says.

The “dangerous horseless carriages” were reported to be frightening the horses of the carriage men, according to the island’s tourism website.

This prompted workers in the carriage industry to file a petition with the village council on July 6, 1898, calling for a ban on the horseless carriages. They said that the use of automobiles on the island would be a danger to “the lives and property of petitioners and their patrons and to all others who use the streets and roads of this village,” according to the state parks website.

The ban on automobiles in the village of Mackinac Island was enacted on the same day it was delivered, and it later went into effect within Mackinac Island State Park from 1901.

Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured in Newsweek.