NYC Council to Vote on Central Park Carriage Ban

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed on legislation to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, ending a tradition of more than 150 years. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the measure on October 22, with Menin stating there is sufficient support to override a potential mayoral veto.

If approved, the ban would take effect by June 1, 2028. The amended proposal requires city agencies to submit a transition plan for drivers, owners, and stable employees by April 1, 2027, including potential financial support, though payouts are not guaranteed. It also mandates stronger protections for horses, prohibiting their sale for slaughter and requiring 10-day notice before an owner disposes of a horse. Violators could face $10,000 penalties.

“The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City.”

The push for a ban intensified after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan died in June after jumping from a runaway carriage during a family ride. His family has pleaded with the Council to end the industry, describing their enduring grief. Mahajan appeared to be the first fatality in a carriage accident since the rides began.

Animal welfare advocates have long argued the horses face dangerous conditions navigating traffic and crowds. Three previous mayors sought to end the rides but were blocked by lawmakers. Menin cited growing public safety liability in an increasingly busy Central Park as a key factor for the current action.