Beginning in 1922, intrastate bus service was regulated by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. The earliest bus services were actually jitney operations. These jitney companies were listed in the 1924 Annual Report, as having certificates for operation.
Because Rhode Island is a small densely populated state, bus service generally is of a more local nature. Providence is the capital and largest city in Rhode Island, with streetcars operating until 1948. The successor bus system evolved to the present state owned Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.
Certificate To Whom Route No. Issued 1 United Electric Railways Providence 2 United Electric Railways Providence-Oakland Beach 7 United Electric Railways Pawtuxet-Warwick Downs 9 John Krawczuk Providence 11 Arthur Touchette Providence 12 Joseph O. Laurence Providence 13 Mikola Hudyma Providence 14 Benny Isabella Providence 15 David Abbott Providence 16 James Varone Providence 17 Henry F. Sullivan Newport 18 Jean Courtois Newport 19 Lars J. Johnson Newport 21 Cornelius J. Sullivan Newport 22 Richard J, Ebbitt Newport 24 John Judd Newport 28 Bradford Dyeing Association Bradford-Westerly 30 United Electric Railways Pawtuxet-Lakewood 31 Blue Ribbon Line Providence 33 United Electric Railways Olneyville Square-Eddy St. 34 United Electric Railways Broadway/Providence 35 James Graham LaSalle Square-Danielson CT 36 Robert E. Hoxsie Providence 37 James A. Woods Newport 41 William H. Kane Newport 42 Newport Electric Corp. Broadway/Newport 43 Herbert C. Cummings Providence-Narragansett Pier 44 Newport Electric Corp. Newport-Tiverton 45 Flora C. Mooney Ashaway-Westerly 46 Flora C. Mooney Westerly-Pleasant View 47 United Electric Railways Providence-Wallum Lake 48 United Electric Railways Providence-Bristol 49 Newport Electric Corp. Bliss Rd./Newport 50 Newport Electric Corp. Seacond Beach Ave.-Newport 51 United Electric Railways Providence-North Scituate