NYC Council approves ban on horse-drawn carriages effective June 2028

The New York City Council approved a measure to ban horse-drawn carriages from city streets and Central Park beginning in June 2028, ending a long-standing tourist attraction. Forty of the 51 council members voted in favor, while seven opposed and two abstained. Mayor Zohran Mamdani supported the legislation, saying the industry would be phased out.

The vote followed the June 17 death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was thrown from a carriage after the horse bolted when the driver stepped away to take a photograph. The incident heightened public concern over safety.

The bill requires the city to create a transition plan for carriage operators by April and to consider compensation for businesses and care for the horses, prohibiting their slaughter.

"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!" – President Donald Trump, posted on Truth Social.

The Transport Workers Union, representing carriage owners and drivers, warned it would seek a temporary restraining order immediately after the legislation is signed, arguing that the ban deprives owners of the economic use of their property.