Horse-Drawn Carriages to Be Banned in New York City

A longstanding tradition in Central Park, which has flourished for over 150 years, is facing a sudden end as New York City prepares to ban horse-drawn carriages throughout the area.

The ban received overwhelming support, passing with a vote of 40–7, along with two abstentions. This decision quashed a last-minute effort to delay the implementation until 2030.

Come June 1, 2028, these carriages will be illegal in all five boroughs, leaving around 200 carriage drivers — and an entire historical industry — without a means of income in under two years, according to reports.

In a post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump expressed his views, suggesting that the end of the carriage rides is due to political motivations.

“The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!”

Trump’s comments came after an agreement between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin to phase out the industry, citing safety as the primary reason.

However, carriage workers have voiced their concerns, wondering why their industry is targeted when other professions, like e-bike and pedicab drivers, frequently disobey traffic regulations, leading to accidents.

“Before you became mayor, you participated in a 15-day hunger strike to support yellow taxi medallion owners facing financial ruin,” longtime carriage driver Atakan Aktay remarked. “Now that you’re mayor, we face losing our businesses without any guaranteed compensation.”

“Where is that same compassion for us? How can you fight for one group while allowing us to face financial devastation? It seems hypocritical,” Aktay added.

In response, workers from the carriage industry have vowed to challenge the ban in court. Their lawsuit emphasizes the absence of financial compensation and criticizes the vague promises regarding job training for “new economic opportunities.”

“This bill is a train wreck of constitutional and due process violations,” Transport Workers Union President John Samuelsen stated. “It offers nothing concrete for drivers and carriage owners who face financial ruin, losing their jobs, licenses, medallions, and way of life.”

Despite this backlash, concerns about animal welfare have intensified, particularly after reports of horses collapsing during extended hours in extreme heat.

This tension escalated this summer when 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan tragically lost his life in an incident where a carriage horse bolted. This unfortunate event marked what is thought to be the first fatality linked to the industry in its long history.