The New York City council is set to vote on a proposal that would ban horse carriages from New York City after decades of political back-and-forth over the issue.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin plans to bring the bill up for a vote on October 22nd, according to her secretary. This proposed horse carriage ban would first take effect on June 1st, 2028, with exceptions for temporary exhibits, performances, or displays according to the bill.
“Horse-drawn carriages have long been part of New York City’s history, but in an increasingly busy Central Park, this tradition has become a growing public safety liability. Next week, the Council will take decisive action by voting on Romanch’s Law to protect New Yorkers, visitors, and the horses themselves,” said Speaker Menin. “Just as importantly, the legislation will require the administration to develop a plan to connect hardworking New Yorkers employed in this industry with new economic opportunities. We can honor our city’s traditions while recognizing when it’s time to move forward.”
Existing horse carriage licenses would expire May 31st, 2028, with no license renewals accepted.
Despite lots of support for the horse carriage ban from animal rights activists who’ve said hat carriage horses are overworked and can get easily spooked on city streets, officials have struggled to push the ban forward because of the Transport Workers Union, a New York transport union that advocates for these carriage drivers and their livelihoods.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously signaled he would support legislation banning horse carriages, but he expressed concerns about the bill containing insufficient worker protections for carriage drivers.
Sneha Choudhary, a city hall spokesperson, said in a statement, “We have been working closely with the city council, union partners, carriage drivers, animal welfare advocates, and community leaders to deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”
