NEW YORK: New York’s city council voted on Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, signalling the end of a tourist ritual that’s been subject to years of heated debate.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who must sign the measure into law, had previously voiced support for such a ban, but has also expressed concern regarding protection for workers in the industry.

If the mayor signs it, the ban will go into effect in June 2028.

The lead-up is meant to help the approximately 150 active carriage drivers find new employment, a city council spokesperson told journalists.

The Transport Workers Union representing those labourers have vowed court action.

Legislative battles over the fate of the cultural tradition that’s nearly as old as Central Park itself have been ongoing for nearly two decades.

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 rides, enshrined in film including Robert Redford and Jane Fonda’s scene in Barefoot in the Park, or a dramatic ride in Sex and the City, currently run for $150 for 45 minutes and up to several hundred dollars for a marriage proposal.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026