The New York City Council voted 40-7, with two abstentions, on Thursday to phase out horse-drawn carriages from city streets by June 1, 2028, ending a tradition that has operated in the city for nearly 170 years.
The legislation, known as Romanch’s Law, is named for 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park. The Central Park Conservancy said his death was the ninth carriage-related incident in just over a year.
The law requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to create a transition program for the more than 150 active carriage drivers and other industry workers, including job training, career counseling and employment referrals. Financial compensation for those losing their jobs is not guaranteed under the bill.
President Donald Trump criticized the council’s decision in a Truth Social post Thursday, writing: “The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!”
The Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage drivers, said it would challenge the ban in federal court and seek a temporary restraining order. The union accused City Council Speaker Julie Menin of not adequately consulting drivers before the vote.
Opponents of the bill also argued that the city has not laid out a concrete financial plan for drivers and carriage owners who will lose their livelihoods. A proposal to push the phaseout back to January 2030 failed before the council’s final vote.
Menin defended the legislation at a news conference Thursday, saying the council spent the summer strengthening protections for workers.
“We’re very confident in the legislation. That’s why we took the time to work over the summer on the legislation. We made changes to legislation to beef up worker protection. We are very confident in defending this law and will vigorously defend it. I’ve already talked to Steve Banks about it and our team, and we will vigorously defend this law,” Menin said.
Animal rights group PETA praised the vote and pledged $50,000 to help retire carriage horses as the industry winds down. The Central Park Conservancy, which has long pushed for an end to carriages, also welcomed the decision, citing safety concerns in a park that draws roughly 40 million visits a year.
“In the modern era, carriages pose a serious — and even fatal — safety risk to Park visitors, carriage drivers, and the horses themselves. Our hearts break for the family of Romanch Mahajan, who stepped into a carriage earlier this summer and never thought he might lose his life,” the Conservancy said in a press release.
The bill also includes protections meant to stop retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter, while letting their owners keep them.
The legislation now goes to Mamdani, who has already voiced support for ending the carriage industry. If he signs it, the law will close out a long-running political fight over one of New York City’s most recognizable tourist attractions.
