Ban horse-drawn carriages NYC is once again at the center of a heated citywide debate, as the New York City Council prepares to take up legislation Wednesday that would phase out the centuries-old industry. The renewed push follows a tragic death in Central Park and has reignited passionate arguments on both sides of the issue.

A Tragedy Sparks New Momentum

The latest effort to end the carriage industry gained urgency after the death of an 18-year-old tourist in Central Park. Romanch Mahajan, an Indian visitor, was killed on June 17 after being thrown from a carriage he was riding in.

In his memory, the bill has been renamed Romanch’s Law. His grieving family plans to attend the hearing and testify by video, urging the council to phase out the carriages. Mahajan’s uncle delivered a powerful plea, saying no other family should ever have to endure such a horrific nightmare.

The incident was not isolated. It marked the eighth serious accident involving the park’s carriage horses in the past two years. Just a week before Mahajan’s death, a horse died after eating a poisonous plant, and the bill’s origins trace back even further, to a horse named Ryder who collapsed in Hell’s Kitchen in August 2022 and later died. Initially known as Ryder’s Law, the legislation has now taken on Romanch’s name.

Political Support and Conditions

The bill, introduced by Council Member Christopher Marte, has attracted notable backing but still faces hurdles. Council Speaker Julie Menin pledged her support in a video, adding that she is actively working on a plan to guarantee carriage workers quality employment opportunities in the hospitality industry. The measure still requires as many as five more council members to sign on.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also weighed in, reaffirming a campaign promise to end the roughly 400-year-old industry. However, his support comes with a key condition: stronger worker protections. He emphasized that protections during the transition are critical and expressed openness to having that conversation as the city works to sunset the industry.

Mamdani made his broader stance clear, stating that throughout both his campaign and his time in office, he has believed the industry must come to an end. Still, he stressed that the current bill’s worker protections remain insufficient and said he looks forward to working with the council to address those gaps.

The Workers’ Perspective

For the people who make their living driving carriages, the proposed ban represents a serious threat to their livelihoods. Marte said he crafted this version of the bill specifically to include a workforce development concept, but drivers argue the plan overlooks important realities.

Christina Hansen of TWU Local 100 pushed back on the framing, pointing out that these are small businesses. She noted that many drivers have worked for decades to save up and buy a medallion. Much like taxi drivers regulated by the TLC, carriage owners buy, sell, or inherit these medallions, which have been capped at 68 since the end of World War II. The bill would halt the renewal of the two-year licenses for those 68 carriages.

Hansen also questioned the fairness of the space argument used against the industry. She recalled being told there wasn’t room for carriages, even as the city added hundreds of pedicabs and thousands of e-bikes, while the number of carriages stayed the same. Now, she said, officials claim there’s no room left for them at all.

For many drivers, the work is deeply personal. Hansen explained that people choose to work with horses out of love for the animals, not because they want to stack boxes in an Amazon warehouse. Marte responded that he doesn’t question the drivers’ love for their horses, but he does question the safety of the operation.

Competing Visions and a Path Forward

The debate is far from one-sided. The current bill to ban the carriages was introduced on June 11, the very same day a counter bill was introduced proposing a study and reform of the industry rather than its elimination.

The Central Park Conservancy is among those set to testify, and it has suggested the city consider bringing the drivers into its own workforce. David Saltonstall, the Conservancy’s vice president, expressed confidence that within the vast network of city jobs, there could be 200 openings matching the drivers’ skills. He noted that such positions would offer benefits like a pension, health care, and time off, things the drivers currently lack as independent operators.

The Conservancy also acknowledged shared concerns. It agreed with the drivers about the dangers of speeding e-bikes and said a safer, carriage-free park in the future should include a well-enforced 15 mile-per-hour speed limit.

What’s at Stake

As the council hearing approaches, the future of one of New York City’s most iconic traditions hangs in the balance. On one side are advocates who see the ban as a necessary step to prevent further tragedy after a string of accidents. On the other are drivers who view the industry as their livelihood and passion, fighting to preserve a way of life while demanding fair treatment in any transition.

With Romanch’s Law now carrying the weight of a young tourist’s death, Wednesday’s hearing promises an emotional and consequential chapter in a debate that has long divided the city. Whatever the council decides, the outcome will shape not only the fate of 68 carriages but the lives of the workers and animals behind them.