Horse-drawn carriages will be banned in New York City after the City Council approved a new bill Thursday that will end a Central Park tradition that’s endured for more than 150 years.
The ban passed in a veto-proof 40-7 vote, with two council members abstaining – despite a last-minute attempt to amend the proposal and push the ban back in 2030.
The ban will take hold on June 1, 2028 and outlaw horse-drawn carriages across all five boroughs.
That means about 200 carriage drivers will see their livelihoods – and entire industry – vanish from the city without a trace in less than two years.
🚨 JUST NOW: President Trump RIPS NYC and Mamdani’s decision to end the “beloved Central Park Horse-drawn Carriage Industry ending after over a Century”
“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!”
“The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!”
The carriages have been part of Central Park for more than 160 YEARS. The City Council is ending them by June 2028, and Mamdani has said he’ll sign it
About 200 drivers making $60-70K a year will be out of work. Their union says the bill guarantees them ZERO compensation for the medallions they paid thousands for
The union is already threatening to take the ban to federal court
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 22, 2026
NYC Democrats End 168-Year Central Park Horse Carriage Tradition in Veto-Proof Vote
The New York City Council voted Thursday to phase out horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by June 1, 2028. The bill, called Romanch’s Law, passed 40-7 with two abstentions. That margin is veto-proof. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has already said he will sign it.
Horse carriages have operated in the park since 1858. For more than 150 years, tourists climbed into them for slow rides under the trees. The industry held about 68 medallions. Roughly 150 active drivers and owners made a living from the rides.
The law is named for 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, a tourist from India. In June he and his family were in a carriage near Cherry Hill. The driver stepped out to take a photo. The horse bolted. Mahajan’s mother fell. He jumped to help her, hit his head, and died. Family members said it was the first such death in the industry’s history in the park. City leaders pointed to the accident as the reason to act after years of debate.
New York City banned the 150 year traditional horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park. Supposedly because of a single death by a run a way horse. But the city and @NYCMayor won’t ban illegals that killed multiple men, women and children. It’s a sanctuary city for illegals. Make it make sense?
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) October 23, 2026
Council Member Christopher Marte, a Democrat from Manhattan, sponsored the bill. Speaker Julie Menin backed it and became the first sitting speaker to support a full ban. Animal rights groups, including NYCLASS and PETA, had pushed versions of the idea since at least 2007. They argued the horses were overworked and the crowded park (more than 42 million visitors a year) made the rides unsafe. Menin said the status quo was no longer acceptable after Mahajan’s death.
The Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the drivers, fought the measure. Drivers gathered at City Hall holding signs that read “Please don’t take my medallion.” They said the horses are cared for under existing rules and that the ban would wipe out businesses built over years. A few Democrats joined the Republicans in voting no. Most of the yes votes came from the Democratic majority that controls the Council.
The final ride is coming for New York City’s horse-drawn carriages.
City lawmakers vote to ban the iconic attraction, with the new restrictions taking effect in 2028.
FOX News’ @BillMelugin_ reports on the decision, which will change a familiar scene around Central Park and raise questions about the future of the carriage industry, and other top stories making headlines.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 22, 2026
The law requires a transition plan for workers by April 2027. It includes job counseling and referrals. Horse owners cannot sell the animals for slaughter or to other carriage operations. Officials say owners may keep their horses if they choose. Previous Democratic mayors, including Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams, had pushed similar bans without success in the Council. This time Mamdani and Menin aligned on the timeline.
The vote ends a visible piece of Central Park that generations of visitors associated with the city. Drivers who paid for licenses face the loss of their trade. Progressive Democratic leaders framed the ban as a safety and animal-welfare measure. Critics see it as another long-running New York tradition removed under one-party Democratic control of city government.
Local races and national midterms will test how voters respond to this style of governance. Current polling and maps are tracked here: https://dedicatedissues.com/election/polls.html.
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