New York City Council to Vote on Ending Horse-Drawn Carriages

For over 160 years, horse-drawn carriages have been a familiar sight in Central Park. However, this Thursday, the New York City Council is set to vote on a proposal that could put an end to this long-standing tradition.

This legislation, referred to as Romanch’s Law, aims to prohibit any horse-drawn carriage operations starting June 1, 2028. Both Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin have openly supported this phaseout.

Atakan Aktay, a Turkish immigrant who has been involved in the Central Park carriage industry for 13 years, expressed deep concern, stating, “It’s going to be a disaster for me, for my family. I cannot pay my bills.” He feels as though, “They’re stealing my American dream from me.”

The push for this bill follows the tragic death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, an Indian tourist who died during a carriage ride in June. While the driver took a moment to photograph Mahajan’s family, the horse bolted, leading to a series of events that ended in the young man’s fatal injuries.

Proponents of the ban argue that it would safeguard both animals and the public. Critics, however, particularly carriage drivers, see it as a threat to their livelihoods after years of hard work in the industry. Aktay, who owns several horses and carriages, has invested his life savings into his business. He believes regulatory changes are more appropriate than an outright ban: “You don’t just wipe out the whole industry because of an accident. You regulate, you modernize.”

The bill also requires the city to create a job transition program for those who lose their positions, though it lacks guarantees for financial support, which has left drivers like Christina Hansen feeling unsupported. “They want to put me to work at 22 bucks an hour doing something that I don’t want to do,” she lamented.

Sam Uzun, another carriage driver, pointed out the age of some drivers who may struggle to find new work. “Some of the people are 60 years old, 65 years old. They like to do this job. They are depending on this business, their family and their kids.”

Concerns about animal welfare have also been raised. Hansen questioned the future of the horses once the ban is in place, noting that the bill does not allocate funds for their long-term care. Although it prevents selling or transferring them for slaughter, it does not require owners to relinquish them.

Meanwhile, some locals propose alternative solutions. Mickey Krisburg highlighted the importance of carriages as a cultural staple in New York, calling for improved oversight. Jennifer Federer suggested replacing horse-drawn carriages with electric vehicles as a compromise to preserve jobs while addressing welfare concerns. “I don’t want humans to have their jobs taken away,” she said.

Tourists still seem enchanted by the idea of horse-drawn rides. A 13-year-old girl from Michigan shared her excitement after stepping off a carriage, recalling that her visit to New York was centered around such experiences. “The New York dream, right?” her mother added.

As the city council’s vote approaches, many wonder if this iconic aspect of New York City will soon fade into memory.