The key facts
- The New York City Council voted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park; Mayor Zohran Mamdani must sign the bill
- The ban will take effect in June 2028; the Transport Workers Union has promised a lawsuit
- The decision followed the death of an 18-year-old tourist from India in June and a series of horse incidents
Council vote
The New York City Council on Thursday voted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, meaning the end of a tourist ritual that has sparked heated disputes for years. Mayor Zohran Mamdani must sign the bill for it to become law. He previously supported the ban but also expressed concern about protecting industry workers. If the mayor signs the document, the ban will take effect in June 2028.
Fate of workers and horses
Council Speaker Julie Menin told reporters before the vote that the transition period is intended to help roughly 150 current carriage drivers find new jobs. The Transport Workers Union, which represents them, has promised to go to court. The bill provides for working out possible compensation for license holders. Owners of nearly 200 horses will be barred from selling them for slaughter or to other horse carriage companies.
Causes and background
Legislative battles over the tradition, almost as old as Central Park itself, have been going on for nearly two decades. Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to fatal collapse cases and dangerous horse runaways; supporters of the industry point to jobs and preserved heritage. This summer proved decisive: in June, an 18-year-old tourist from India was killed after being struck by a horse that had broken loose. This was preceded by a series of incidents, including the deaths of several horses.
Position of the managing organization and context
The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the most visited urban park in the United States with 42 million visits a year, supported calls for a ban, saying the issue had become 'a matter of public health and safety.' Rides immortalized in film and television — from the scene with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in 'Barefoot in the Park' to the dramatic ride in 'Sex and the City' — currently cost $150 for 45 minutes and up to several hundred dollars for a marriage proposal.