New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin reached an agreement on legislation to abolish the Central Park horse-drawn carriage industry. The deal was struck on October 13, 2026, setting the stage for a formal ban.
Speaker Menin is expected to bring the legislation to the City Council floor for a vote later this month. A spokesperson has confirmed the timeline, indicating that council action is imminent.
Zohran Mamdani just cut a deal with City Council leaders to ban New York's horse carriages by 2028. More than 150 years of history, gone. Subways are a mess. Crime is still an issue. Rent is through the roof. And his big move is going after the horses in Central Park. New Yorker, this is your mayor. Priorities.
The ban will be rolled out in phases and will take full effect on June 1, 2028. The ban will be implemented in phases.
NYCLASS executive director Edita Birnkrant praised the advocates and supporters who have spent years fighting to protect horses and people on the city’s streets.
Momentum to end the century-old attraction intensified after the death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was thrown from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park last summer. The incident occurred on the same day as the deal, October 13, 2026, and marks the first fatal accident since the rides began more than 150 years ago.
NYCLASS executive director Edita Birnkrant praised the advocates and supporters who have spent years fighting to protect horses and people on the city’s streets. Animal rights advocates have long argued that the horses are overworked, easily scared, and housed in inadequate stables.
City Hall spokesperson Sneha Choudhary described the forthcoming change as a "just transition that protects workers," emphasizing collaboration with the City Council, union partners, carriage drivers, animal welfare advocates, and community leaders to end the carriages while safeguarding livelihoods.
Officials have characterized the tradition as a growing public safety liability. While horse and carriage owners have maintained a neutral stance, critics point to the inherent risks highlighted by Mahajan’s death and the longstanding animal welfare concerns.
With the legislation poised for a council vote later this month and a phased ban scheduled to culminate on June 1, 2028, the future of Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages appears settled. The agreement follows years of criticism from animal rights advocates and the fatal accident involving Romanch Mahajan.