New York City to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in Central Park by 2028

You are running out of time if riding a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park is a bucket list activity. A new law will ban the use of these carriages beginning in June of 2028. Here is a look at the ban and why it was enacted.

Horse-Drawn Carriages Coming to an End in New York City

The New York City Council passed a law last week that will ban horse-drawn carriages, getting rid of a controversial practice in Central Park. The council passed Romanch's Law, previously known as Ryder's Law, on October 22. This law will phase out the practice over the next several months.

A city official defended the bill's passing, saying that “Horse-drawn carriages have been part of New York City’s history since before cars, but our city has changed drastically." The law is scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2028, according to the official announcement from the city council.

The New York Times confirmed that the mayor will sign the bill into law. A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that “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."

Mamdani's office was instrumental in helping to draft the bill, signaling that he is supportive of the legislation. The mayor officially has 30 days to sign or veto the bill.

The tradition of horse-drawn carriages in the country's most famous park dates back to 1858. However, animal rights groups have called the practice into question in recent years, arguing that what was once a necessary form of transportation has evolved into a tourist attraction that is inhumane.

Why the Practice Has Been Under Fire

A series of events in recent months prompted city officials to pass the ban. It has been four months since 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan lost his life after he fell from a horse-drawn carriage while riding through the park on June 17. Earlier in the month, a 16-year-old horse collapsed and passed away while taking passengers on a ride. Both of the tragedies renewed the calls to ban the practice.

“The risks associated with carriage horses are inherent: forcing horses to pull carriages through New York City’s busy, loud streets is unsafe and places an undeniable strain on their quality of life,” said Matt Bershadker, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) president and CEO. The law not going into effect until June of 2028 will give operators the time “to ensure the humane retirement and placement of carriage horses,” according to ASPCA.

Bershadker praised the decision, noting that “After decades of debate, repeated accidents, incremental reforms, and renewed public concern following the tragic death of Romanch Mahajan, the New York City Council has moved beyond temporary fixes and passed Romanch’s Law — a lasting solution that protects horses, supports workers, and reflects the values of a modern city." The ASPCA leader also lauded the members of the city council “for their leadership in passing this historic legislation.”

The bill's passage was also praised by Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals, calling the vote a "historic milestone for animals.“ Block went on to explain that "For decades, New York City’s carriage horse industry has operated on a fantasy that these horses can carry some semblance of a former world,” noting that animals should not be regarded as symbols but as “living, breathing individuals with needs, instincts and intentions all their own.”

Block concluded her statement by saying, “By ending the use of horse-drawn carriages, the City Council has recognized that no maintenance of tradition should come at the expense of risks to animals and people."

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