Horse-drawn Carriages in New York City Expected to Be Outlawed
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Horse-drawn carriages in New York City expected to be outlawed
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Horse-drawn carriages have a long history as a tourist attraction - but people have raised concerns for years
By Madeline Halpert | Published: 13 October 2026
The New York City Council is expected to outlaw horse-drawn carriages starting in June 2028, a ban also supported by the mayor. This decision follows the death of a teenager who fell off a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park this year, and ongoing concerns about inhumane treatment of the horses.
Julie Menin, Speaker of New York City Council, expressed her support for 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."
The legislation, known as Romanch's law after the teenager who died, is expected to be voted on by the council on 22 October. It includes an "industry transition framework" providing potential job placement, training, career counseling, and financial compensation for those involved in the business. The bill prohibits the horses from being sold for slaughter.
This is not the first attempt to end the industry; former Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed banning carriages in Central Park in 2014 due to poor horse treatment, but implemented new rules restricting where carriages could pick up tourists instead.
In June, Romanch Mahajan, visiting from India, was killed when the horse pulling his carriage bolted. Also this year, a carriage horse named Dennis died in Central Park from eating a toxic plant. Some workers' groups, like the Transport Workers Union, have opposed the ban, arguing that horses are treated well and that the industry employs hundreds of people.
Last year, the Central Park Conservancy supported legislation to ban the practice.