New York City ends 160-year tradition as council votes to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park after Indian tourist's death

The New York City Council on Thursday (Oct. 22) voted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, marking the end of a tradition that was well over a century old. The city council voted 40 to 7, with two abstentions, on the ban, which would prohibit the issuance of new licenses for horse-drawn carriages and phase out the existing ones by June 1, 2028. The bill also prohibits sale of the horses to slaughterhouses, according to ABC News.

Ahead of the vote, City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the carriages had become outdated. "They don't belong in an area that attracts 42 million people a year, pulling a 1,000-pound carriage in record heat," she said.

Bill promises new employment

Under the bill, a "workforce transition program" will be launched for drivers of the carriages, which will include job placement, training, career counseling, and financial compensation.

Former New York City mayors Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams had both pushed for the ban during their tenures, but lacked enough support in the city council.

The issue gained momentum over the last few months after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India, was killed in a fall from a horse-drawn carriage in June. In similar incidents in the past, tourists and parkgoers were injured when horses ran loose.

Park conservancy, rights groups hail decision

The Central Park Conservancy, which operates the park and has voiced support for the ban for years, hailed the decision. It said in a statement that Mahajan's death "was the ninth carriage-related incident in just over a year—a number we could not ignore as the stewards and caretakers of Central Park."

The vote has also been praised by animal rights groups who have called for the ban over safety incidents and animal abuse concerns.

Carriage drivers threaten legal action

The union that represents carriage drivers has threatened to file a lawsuit. The Transport Workers Union, which represents the roughly 150 drivers, held a protest outside the City Hall on Thursday.

"We will see them in court," Alexander Kemp, administrative vice president for TWU Local 100, said after the vote. "This bill is blatantly unconstitutional, providing nothing but a plan to draft a plan. There’s nothing concrete for hundreds of workers, carriage owners and family members who face total economic devastation," Kemp added.

Trump says 'a great tradition' gone

President Donald Trump, who has had a hot and cold relationship with NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, slammed the ban in a social media post.

"When there is a car accident in the area, of which there are many, they don't stop cars from ​entering the Park. So why would they stop the Carriages? It was a Great ​Tradition. Another piece of History that’s gone. It will be missed!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.