By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-15 13:32:04 | Updated at 2026-10-15 14:30:22
1 hour ago
Horse-drawn carriage rides in New York’s Central Park could be discontinued starting June 1, 2028, under a bill supported by City Council member Zohran Mamdani and City Councilwoman Julie Menin, DPA reported, citing US media.
The proposal calls for the gradual phasing out of the attraction, which has been part of the city’s tourism landscape for about 150 years. The bill is set for a vote by the New York City Council, expected late next week.
The initiative follows a fatal incident in June—in which an 18-year-old tourist from India died after a carriage accident—and comes amidst long-standing calls from animal welfare organizations to end the practice.
“The carriage industry in New York is coming to an end,” Mamdani wrote on the social network X on Tuesday. He added that his administration would ensure protections for workers and owners in the sector, as well as the safety of the horses.
While popular among Central Park visitors, carriage rides have sparked controversy for years due to the conditions in which the animals are kept and used. Animal rights advocates argue that the horses are overworked, housed in unsuitable conditions, and prone to panic. Representatives of the carriage industry reject these allegations. Various incidents involving horse-drawn carriages have been recorded over the years. In June, an 18-year-old from India, visiting New York with his family, died after jumping from a carriage to reach his mother, who had been thrown from it. The young man struck his head on the ground and sustained severe injuries, later succumbing to them in the hospital.
The proposal for a ban once again brings to the fore the question of the future of one of New York’s traditional tourist attractions, as well as the balance between the interests of the tourism industry, safety, and the humane treatment of animals.
Illustrative photo: pexels-emre-ozyemisci-2152378704-32264921
