New York City Council to vote on horse-drawn carriage ban starting in 2028

New York, United States. New York City lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on legislation to prohibit horse-drawn carriages from June 1, 2028. Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports the measure, which has a majority of City Council members as co-sponsors.

Tourist’s death strengthens support

Support for the legislation increased following the death this summer of Romanch Mahajan, an Indian tourist aged 18. On June 17, Mahajan was fatally thrown from a carriage after its horse bolted while the driver had stepped away to photograph his family.

The family subsequently submitted a notice of claim seeking $50 million from the city government and backed the proposed prohibition.

In a statement, Sagar Chadha of Liakas Law, representing the family, welcomed the forthcoming vote. He said a ban would prevent other people or horses from suffering a tragedy like the one experienced by the Mahajan family.

Renewed effort to end the industry

Efforts to close the carriage industry during the past decade have been unsuccessful. The current proposal, however, has secured co-sponsorship from most council members as well as the mayor’s backing.

Earlier this month, Mamdani said the horse-carriage industry was nearing its end.

Animal rights campaigners have criticised the trade in recent years, arguing that horses face unsafe and inhumane conditions.

A longstanding Central Park presence

For observers, the sight of coachmen wearing black top hats and carrying passengers in horse-drawn carriages around Central Park and surrounding Manhattan streets can evoke an earlier era.

Carriage rides in Central Park date to the 1800s, when a 6-mile loop was designed for journeys on horseback. By the middle of the 20th century, the city had capped horse-drawn carriage licences at 68, with carriages permitted both inside the park and on streets shared with cars.

Angelica Vega, a dog walker aged 45, said the carriages predated everyone now visiting the park and that their absence would make her sad. Vega has visited Central Park for 20 years, frequently making three visits daily.