From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, February 9, 1915: The “jitney” bus has arrived. This automobile express service made its debut yesterday when Richard Rogers, at the behest of a group of local men, established a route on Illinois Street between Union Station and Thirty-fourth St. Rogers is using a five passenger automobile on the route, and if the undertaking proves profitable additional “jitney” bus routes throughout the city will be developed. The “jitney” idea is supposed to have started a year ago in Phoenix, Arizona, and while it has become popular in other cities of the West, this innovation has quickly spread to cities across the country, too. The term “jitney” refers to any automobile or motor truck used to carry passengers at a per capita charge of one jitney — 5 cents (2013: $1.13).