At a Glance

• New York City's city council voted on Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park.

• If signed into law by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the ban will officially go into effect in June 2028.

• The transition period is intended to help roughly 150 active carriage drivers find alternative employment.

• The decision follows a fatal incident this past June involving a loose horse that killed an 18-year-old tourist from India.

Legislative efforts surrounding Central Park's historic horse-drawn carriages have reached a decisive turning point following a city council vote to end the tourist tradition.

Legislative Vote and Timeline

• The New York city council voted on Thursday to approve a ban on Central Park's horse-drawn carriages.

• The vote brings an end to nearly two decades of heated legislative battles over the cultural heritage tradition.

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who must sign the measure into law, has previously voiced support for the ban while raising concerns regarding worker protections.

• If signed, the ban is scheduled to go into effect in June of 2028.

Impact on Workers and Industry Regulations

• City Council Speaker Julie Menin stated that the lead-up period is designed to help the approximately 150 active carriage drivers transition to new jobs.

• The Transport Workers Union, which represents the industry laborers, has vowed to take court action in response.

• The legislation includes a provision to explore potential financial compensation for license holders.

• It explicitly mandates that owners of the nearly 200 horses are prohibited from selling them for slaughter or to other horse-carriage businesses.

Catalysts for the Ban

• Critics have long argued that the animals suffer, pointing to past deadly collapses and dangerous escapes.

• Momentum for the ban peaked following an incident this past June where an 18-year-old tourist from India was killed by a horse that broke loose and bolted.

• The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park's 42 million annual visits, supported the ban by declaring it a matter of public health and safety.

FYI

Central Park's carriage rides, traditionally costing anywhere from $150 for 45 minutes to several hundred dollars for special occasions, have long been enshrined in popular culture, appearing in films and television shows like Barefoot in the Park and Sex and the City.