Neigh-sayers are wrong about NYC's horse carriage ban | Opinion

Well, there goes the neigh-borhood.

On Oct. 22, the New York City Council voted to permanently ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park following years of concerns about animal cruelty and public safety. With that, a 170-year New York City tradition will officially come to an end in June 2028.

The only people who will miss it are the city's visitors, who are willing to shell out anywhere between $72 for a 20-minute ride and $415 for a "grand tour" of the park. For those of us who actually live in New York City, the decision won't affect our day-to-day lives much.

Beyond the employees whose livelihoods will be affected, the only New Yorker who seems to genuinely take issue with the conclusion of the practice is President Donald Trump.

"The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience," the president posted on Truth Social. "So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!"

Personally, I don't see how protecting the safety of tourists and animals alike is political. It seems to simply be common sense. The real question is how the city will effectively phase out the practice while also compensating the drivers who make their living in the park. But this is a good thing for New York.

How did the horse-drawn carriage ban finally arrive in New York?

Although animal rights groups have called on the city to ban horse carriage rides for years, the conversation picked up momentum in June, when 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, a tourist from India visiting with his family, died after falling out of the cab when a horse took off. His parents have supported the legislation banning horse-drawn carriages in the park, and the new legislation was nicknamed "Romanch's Law" in his memory.

"The tragic and preventable death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan this summer underscored the need for urgent action after decades of mounting concerns," City Council Speaker Julie Menin said in a statement. "From longstanding animal welfare concerns and increasingly extreme heat conditions to historic overcrowding in Central Park, which now welcomes more than 42 million visitors annually, the status quo has become unsustainable and unsafe for horses and people alike."

Critics say the city should be more concerned with e-bikes and other battery-powered vehicles, which have led to at least 28 deaths across the city since January.

These critics are right to call out the safety concerns beyond the horse-drawn carriages, but it's a "both/and" scenario: Nny threat to public safety in a park that sees millions of visitors a year should be taken seriously.

The horse-drawn carriage ban is a win for everybody in New York

There are some real concerns raised about the legislation that should be taken seriously by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city council. Roughly 200 workers, many of whom are unionized, and about 160 carriage horses will now be out of jobs. The city must figure out what to do next to ensure drivers can transition into new careers.

The bill included a stipulation that the mayor must establish a transition plan to help the workers find new jobs. The city has not said that it will definitively pay for the cost of the carriage medallions, which authorize the horse-drawn carriages to operate and cost as much as $400,000 each. This is leading the Transport Workers Union to consider pursuing legal action against the city.

As for the horses, the process for finding them new homes can begin now that the bill has passed the city council and is expected to be signed by Mamdani. Animal sanctuaries across the country have offered their services to the soon-to-be retired equines, but it's unclear as to whether their owners will be compensated for their animals.

Two things can be true: This bill was necessary, and the holes within the legislation should have been addressed prior to its passing. Ultimately, the ban was the right move to protect New Yorkers, tourists and horses alike. The city council's decision to quit horsing around after years of indecision will make the city safer, but they must be prepared for the legal consequences of the bill.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neigh-sayers are wrong about NYC's horse carriage ban | Opinion

Reporting by Sara Pequeño, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published October 26, 2026 at 1:31 AM.