VIDEO: NYC Council Votes to Ban Central Park Horse Carriage Rides
NEW YORK —New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry, a Central Park staple for more than 150 years, is coming to an end after the City Council approved legislation to phase out the rides.
The industry has long been a popular attraction for tourists, but animal welfare advocates have criticized the practice, arguing that horses face overwork, mistreatment and unsafe conditions.
On Oct. 22, the City Council passed Romanch’s Law, named after an Indian tourist who died in June after jumping from a runaway horse-drawn carriage.
About 40 working carriage horses have died on the job since 1982, including from heat exhaustion and accidents, according to data from the Manhattan borough president’s office.
Supporters rallied outside City Hall ahead of the vote, calling for an end to the industry. More than half of the City Council sponsored the legislation, which advocates say will improve safety for horses, drivers and pedestrians.
“What we’ve seen in this industry is unsafe conditions for the horse, but also for pedestrians, for the drivers — for everyone in the ecosystem, whether it’s in Central Park or near the stables,” said City Council Member Christopher Marte, a Democrat. “And so this is a win-win for public safety, for everyone.”
Animal rights advocates also argued that protecting horses is a moral responsibility.
“As compassionate, moral people, we have a duty to protect them when they are being harmed,” said Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets), “And we also have a duty to protect our fellow citizens.”
Mary Beth Artz, another animal rights advocate, said concern for animal welfare should not come at the expense of workers’ livelihoods.
“Speaking up for animals doesn’t mean we don’t care for humans,” Artz said. “I care for both. But I think it’s really important that we speak up for those who have no voice. They can’t tell us how they’re suffering.”
Some Catholics who spoke in support of the legislation said ending the carriage industry aligns with the responsibility to care for animals and protect creation.
The legislation has also drawn opposition from Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents carriage drivers. The union has vowed to challenge the law, raising concerns about job losses for more than 150 drivers and the lack of compensation for their investments in the industry. Some operators hold carriage licenses, or medallions, similar to those used by taxi drivers.
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The ban will not take effect until June 2028, when existing licenses are set to expire. The city must develop a transition plan by April that addresses compensation for carriage operators.
Under the proposal, the horses would be prohibited from being slaughtered.
The phaseout will mark the end of a long-running New York City tradition while leaving city officials to navigate the transition for workers and determine the future of the horses.