New York City has moved to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, ending a tradition that has lasted more than 150 years. The City Council passed a bill last week that mandates a complete ban on these rides by June 2028. The decision follows heightened public scrutiny since the death of a teenage tourist in a carriage-related incident last spring.
The legislation directs Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office to develop a workforce transition plan by April 2024 aimed at assisting the more than 150 remaining carriage drivers and others in the industry. The plan is expected to include job referrals, career counseling, educational opportunities, and potentially some form of compensation. However, details remain vague, and the bill does not establish specific targets or benchmarks for the displaced workers.
City Hall has indicated that it is actively working on the transition program, with a spokesperson for the mayor’s office affirming the administration’s commitment to signing the bill and providing protections for carriage owners and drivers. “The mayor will sign this bill, and the Mamdani administration is working every day to ensure we can do so while providing the strongest possible protections for the owners and workers in this industry,” the spokesperson said.
The decision has been met with concern from those whose livelihoods depend on the carriage trade. Medet Fidan, a 56-year-old former cab driver turned carriage operator, said the ban leaves workers facing uncertainty. “I think the city is leaving us a big mess,” he said. “We’re going to lose our businesses, we’re going to lose our jobs, we’re going to lose our livelihoods.” Similarly, driver Alexus Lawson, 28, who has worked with horses since childhood, expressed anxiety over caring for her horses without a source of income.
Council Speaker Julie Menin, who helped lead the effort to enact the ban, emphasized the necessity of protecting workers during the transition. A spokesperson for Menin said she will remain engaged throughout the process, noting that the legislation sets a firm deadline to prompt City Hall to address the future of the carriage drivers. Menin has argued that horses no longer have an appropriate role among Central Park’s diverse activities and pedestrian traffic.
The union representing horse-drawn carriage drivers has announced plans to challenge the ban legally. They have promised to file a lawsuit promptly following the bill’s enactment.
Supporters of the ban cited public safety concerns. Betsy Smith, president of the Central Park Conservancy, hailed the legislation, stating that in the modern context, horse carriages pose significant safety risks to visitors, drivers, and the horses alike.
The decision has drawn criticism from some quarters, including former President Donald Trump, whose Trump Tower overlooks Central Park. Trump described carriage rides as “a quintessential New York experience” and lamented the impending ban.