The New York City Council has passed legislation to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in the city, setting a deadline of June 2028 to end operations that have spanned more than 160 years in Central Park. Lawmakers voted on the measure, known as Romanch’s Law, following a carriage accident in June that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan.
“We want to make sure Romanch’s death was not in vain,” said Saggar Chadha, an attorney representing Mahajan’s family. “Not just for Romanch, but so no one else is killed or injured by horse-drawn carriages in New York City.”
The bill now moves to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his signature. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office stated that the administration will sign the measure while working to provide strong protections for workers and owners in the industry. Prior to the vote, Council member Christopher Marte emphasized the historic nature of the opportunity to protect residents, visitors, workers, and animals.
The legislation establishes a transition plan for workers and owners to be developed in 2027 and includes provisions for the humane placement of the animals. However, carriage owners and industry representatives strongly opposed the measure, staging rallies outside City Hall ahead of the vote to protest the impending closure of their livelihoods.
“I invested $400,000 two years ago to expand my father’s dream, and you’re coming here to steal it,” said carriage owner Francesco Riccobono. His wife, Natalie, added, “We are asking for fairness. We are asking for compassion. We are asking for a seat at the table.”
The Transport Workers Union announced plans to challenge the ban in federal court. Union attorney Ben Kallos argued that the city failed to fulfill a city charter requirement to conduct an economic impact analysis, asserting that a judge would likely overturn the legislation.
Proponents of the ban defended the measure as a necessary step for public safety and animal welfare. City Council Speaker Julie Menin pointed out that Central Park accommodates 42 million visitors annually, creating a congested environment where carriages operate alongside dense traffic and pedestrian crowds. Menin noted that horses have previously been spooked and broken free, and recalled that initial legislative efforts to ban the industry began 19 years ago.
Betsy Smith, CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, supported the vote, stating that the carriages present a severe safety risk to visitors, drivers, and the horses themselves. Kathleen Schatzmann of the Animal Legal Defense Fund praised the decision as a humane shift for New York tourism that balances worker support with animal protections.
The council’s decision also drew external reactions, including from former President Donald Trump, who described the end of the tradition as a regrettable loss driven by a single tragic incident, comparing the carriage restrictions favorably to vehicular traffic in the park.
