New York City Council votes to ban horse-drawn carriages from 2028

Mayor Mamdani backs measure after decade of debate and fatal incident

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The New York City Council has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages from city streets and Central Park, ending a historic tourist attraction that has divided the city for decades. The ban, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will take effect in June 2028, giving the industry roughly 18 months to wind down.

Forty of the city's 51 council members supported the bill, with seven voting against and two abstaining. If signed by Mayor Mamdani, who earlier this month said the horse-drawn carriage industry would end, the ban will take effect in June 2028.

The vote came after decades of debate over animal welfare, the livelihood of carriage drivers, and the tradition of horse-drawn rides through Central Park. Recent incidents, including the death of an Indian tourist, prompted renewed urgency. Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old from India, died on June 17 after being thrown from a carriage when the horse bolted after the driver stepped away to take a photograph of Mr Mahajan's family.

Advocates for the ban cite cases of horses collapsing and dangerous escapes, arguing the animals suffer in city traffic. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, supported the ban, calling it a matter of public health and safety.

Opponents, including the Transport Workers Union representing carriage business owners and drivers, say the ban destroys jobs and a piece of city heritage. The union has threatened to seek a temporary restraining order, according to a letter from its attorney Arthur Schwartz to the city's corporation counsel.

President Donald Trump expressed scepticism about the ban, writing on social media that car accidents are not banned from Central Park so why should carriages be. "It was a Great Tradition. Another piece of History that's gone. It will be missed!" he wrote.

The bill includes a provision for exploring potential compensation for licence holders, according to council speaker Julie Menin. It also prevents owners of the nearly 200 horses from selling them for slaughter or to other carriage businesses. The lead-up period is meant to help the approximately 150 active carriage drivers find new employment.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The ban ends a practice that has been a fixture of New York tourism for over a century, affecting visitors and a small but established industry.
The vote reflects shifting public attitudes toward animal welfare in urban settings, which could influence similar debates in other cities.
The planned transition period and compensation exploration may set a precedent for how cities phase out historic but controversial industries.

Background

The debate over horse-drawn carriages in New York City has simmered for decades. Animal rights groups have long argued the horses work in dangerous traffic and extreme weather, while drivers and some tourism advocates defend the carriages as a beloved tradition and a source of income for immigrant communities. The death of a tourist this summer, along with several horse deaths in recent years, tipped the balance toward action. Mayor Mamdani, elected in 2025, made the ban part of his platform.

Key Perspectives

Animal welfare advocates: The ban is long overdue. Horses are not suited to city streets; the recent fatalities show the practice is inherently dangerous for animals and people. Transport Workers Union and carriage industry: The ban destroys livelihoods and an irreplaceable part of New York's character. The industry has been unfairly singled out while cars cause far more accidents. Central Park Conservancy: The ban is necessary for public safety, and the park should not host an activity that repeatedly produces injuries and deaths.

What to Watch

Whether the Transport Workers Union follows through on its threat to seek a temporary restraining order.
How the city structures compensation for licence holders and what happens to the nearly 200 horses.
Whether the ban survives potential legal challenges or becomes a model for other cities considering similar restrictions.

Sources

New York City bans horse-drawn carriages from 2028 · Just In

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 5 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe New York City Council voted to ban horse-drawn carriages from 2028.Just In: “New York City bans horse-drawn carriages from 2028. The New York City Council has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages from city streets and Central Park”
SupportedMayor Mamdani backs the measure.Just In: “the bill, which was backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani”
Partly supportedThe debate lasted a decade.Just In: “The ban comes after decades of debate about the practice”
Partly supportedThe ban will take effect in June 2028.Just In: “If the mayor signs it, the ban will go into effect in June of 2028.”
Not in the sourcesThe industry has roughly 18 months to wind down.
SupportedForty of 51 council members voted for the bill, seven against and two abstained.Just In: “Forty of the city's 51 council members supported the bill, which was backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who earlier this month said the horse-drawn carriage industry would come to an end. Seven voted against it and two abstained.”
Partly supportedTrump expressed scepticism about the ban on social media.Just In: “US President Donald Trump, who has both attacked Mamdani and held cordial meetings with him, expressed scepticism about the ban.”
SupportedTrump wrote, “It was a Great Tradition. Another piece of History that's gone. It will be missed!”Just In: ““So why would they stop the Carriages? It was a Great Tradition. Another piece of History that's gone. It will be missed!””
SupportedRomanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India, died on June 17 after the horse bolted when the driver stepped away to photograph his family.Just In: “Mr Mahajan was thrown from a carriage and died on June 17, when the horse bolted after the driver stepped away to take a picture of Mahajan's family.”
Partly supportedAdvocates for the ban cite horse collapses and dangerous escapes as evidence that the animals suffer in city traffic.Just In: “Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to deadly collapses and dangerous escapes, while advocates point to the jobs they create and the heritage they uphold.”
Partly supportedThe Transport Workers Union says the ban destroys jobs and city heritage.Just In: “Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to deadly collapses and dangerous escapes, while advocates point to the jobs they create and the heritage they uphold. The Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage business owners and drivers, opposes the ban.”
Partly supportedThe union has threatened to seek a temporary restraining order.Just In: “The day before the vote, the Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage business owners and drivers, said that if the bill was enacted, it would seek a temporary restraining order from a court “the minute the ink dries””