Council approves ban
New York City lawmakers have voted to end horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, with the ban scheduled to take effect in 2028. NOS reported that the proposal passed the City Council by 40 votes to seven.
A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani said he would sign the bill. According to NOS, opponents will still have an opportunity to challenge the measure through the courts before it comes into force.
The carriages have long been promoted as a Central Park tourist attraction, but critics have described the industry as a form of animal mistreatment. NOS said the debate received renewed attention when a horse bolted during the summer in an incident that killed an 18-year-old tourist from India.
Assistance promised for workers and owners
NOS reported that about 180 horses are currently used to pull the carriages and that approximately 200 owners and employees care for them. The mayor’s spokesperson said the city intends to protect those owners and workers as much as possible during the transition.
The City Council president also said New York would do everything it could to assist drivers who lose their jobs. One possibility raised was helping some move into work operating bicycle taxis in the park.
Supporters of the carriage trade oppose its closure and regard it as a valued tradition. Tages-Anzeiger also described carriage rides as a familiar part of Central Park visits for many tourists.