Full Breakdown
NYC Moves to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages by 2028
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Deal to End Horse-Drawn Carriage Operations
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have reached an agreement to prohibit horse-drawn carriages throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The council is set to introduce a bill next week that would make the practice illegal beginning June 2028. The proposal follows a series of safety and animal-welfare concerns that have intensified in recent months.
Background and Recent Safety Concerns
Horse-drawn carriages have been a long-standing feature of Central Park tourism, but a fatal incident in early 2026 heightened scrutiny. Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India, was thrown from a carriage after a horse became spooked and died on the spot. A city-hired veterinarian subsequently reported dozens of health abnormalities among the horses housed in the park’s stables, fueling calls for reform.
Key Figures
- Zohran Mamdani — Mayor of New York City.
- Julie Menin — Speaker of the New York City Council.
Official Statements & Responses
Speaker Menin told the press that the growing density of park visitors has turned the historic tradition into a “public safety liability” and that the forthcoming legislation is intended to protect New Yorkers, visitors, and the horses themselves. A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani did not respond to requests for comment.
What’s Next
The council is expected to vote on the ban-bill next week. If passed, the law will take effect in June 2028, ending all horse-drawn carriage operations citywide.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Council Speaker Julie Menin