Texas

One feature common to taxis worldwide is the decoration of cabs inside and out. Although passengers sometimes observe a stuffed animal mounted on the front grille or a driver dressed as the Easter Bunny, such displays are generally rare in America. Inside the vehicle, however, American drivers frequently apply ethnic, religious, and personal decorations to the rearview mirror and dashboard as personal creative expressions. One item widely associated with the occupational folklife of the taxi driver is the “cabbie’s hat.” Once referring to a chauffeur’s hat, which might feature the design of a Checker cab, today it more commonly refers to a flat cap. While no longer the standard garb that it once was, the cabbie’s hat-often decorated with buttons declaring a union affiliation or other group affiliation-remains an item of material culture associated with the taxi driver’s life.