New York City to ban Central Park horse-drawn carriages after fatal tourist accident

New York City to ban Central Park horse-drawn carriages after fatal tourist accident The proposed legislation prohibits owners from selling horses to slaughterhouses, specifying that animals must be handled in a ’humane manner’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in New York City is moving to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, ending a tradition of more than 150 years following long-standing campaigns by animal welfare groups and the fatal accident of a teenage tourist last spring. The City Council is expected to vote next week on legislation that would phase out the rides by 2028. While three consecutive mayors had previously advocated for an end to the industry over safety concerns, prior attempts were repeatedly halted by lawmakers. A spokesperson for Julie Menin, the council speaker, confirmed the upcoming vote and stated that the bill has sufficient support to pass. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office indicated that an agreement on the proposed text had been reached with the speaker. "The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City," Mamdani said in a social media post. The current push for a ban gained momentum in June after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, a tourist from India, died when he jumped from a runaway carriage during an outing with his family. The death, believed to be the first fatality linked to a horse carriage accident in Central Park history, renewed debate over whether the historic attraction remains appropriate in a modern urban environment. Mahajan's family members have repeatedly petitioned City Hall, both in person and via video link from India, pleading with officials to terminate the industry. "We are shattered, our whole family shattered. The pain does not go away," his father, Deepak Mahajan, told council members via a video call during a hearing for the bill last summer, saying his son leapt from the carriage to try and help his mother, who was flung from her seat, after the horse bolted. "Every morning we wake up and think of nothing but the loss of our son." Animal welfare advocates and critics have campaigned against the industry for decades, contending that horses should not be working among dense traffic, busy park roads, and crowds of spectators. Previous incidents of horses collapsing or bolting into traffic have routinely triggered calls for legislative action. "The tragic and preventable death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan made clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable. Horse-drawn carriages have long been part of New York City’s history, but in an increasingly busy Central Park, this tradition has become a growing public safety liability," Menin said in a statement. Defenders of the industry have countered that carriage rides offer visitors a chance to experience a classic aspect of New York heritage popularized by film and television. The carriages feature in cinematic moments such as Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse dancing beside one in "The Band Wagon," Robert Redford and Jane Fonda riding through the park in "Barefoot in the Park," and Macaulay Culkin escaping pursuers in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." "Taking a horse and carriage ride in New York City is one of the most iconic things to do in New York City and people from all over the world know about us and travel to New York to go to a carriage ride in New York," Conor McHugh, a longtime carriage driver, told the Council earlier this year. Efforts to eliminate the carriages have previously met strong resistance from labor unions and prominent advocates, leading to extended political disputes over driver displacement and the long-term care of retired animals. Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen criticized the pending legislation, stating it provides "no meaningful economic relief for workers" and accusing Menin of having "used the tragic death of a tourist to contrive a public safety crisis." "This is disgraceful political opportunism, and Zohran should not simply go along with it, particularly when immigrant families’ livelihoods are being destroyed. This entire situation is reprehensible," he said in a statement. The proposed legislation directs the mayor's office to create a workforce transition plan for drivers and includes provisions allowing the city to evaluate financial compensation for affected workers. It also prohibits owners from selling horses to slaughterhouses, specifying that animals must be handled in a "humane manner." "I think we have a civic responsibility to ensure that we are not leaving anybody out to dry," Mamdani told reporters Wednesday. Previous administrations made little progress on the issue. The mayor's predecessor, Eric Adams, endorsed an end to the carriage rides late in his term, but no legislation was enacted. The mayor before that, Bill de Blasio, pledged to ban the carriages on his first day in office, but abandoned the effort following union opposition and a high-profile public campaign led by actor Liam Neeson. Over the years, municipal authorities have implemented various operational standards, including requiring horses to receive at least five weeks of annual vacation in pastures outside city limits. City regulations also require bi-annual veterinary examinations, set a maximum working age of 26, and suspend operations when temperatures exceed 89 degrees. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments