The New York City Council voted 40-7 on Thursday to officially ban the city’s historic horse-drawn carriage rides by June 1, 2028, bringing an end to a famous Central Park tradition that began shortly after the park’s opening in 1858 and the issuance of official licenses in 1862. This monumental shift followed years of heated controversy regarding animal rights and passenger safety, which intensified dramatically following the tragic June 17 accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, an Indian teenager visiting from Punjab, who suffered fatal head trauma after jumping from a runaway carriage to rescue his mother, Priya, after she fell when the driver briefly left the reins unattended to take a photograph. Although the legislation requires a comprehensive transition blueprint for impacted industry workers by April 2027, the mandate faces fierce resistance from the Transport Workers Union, which has threatened legal challenges to safeguard operators, alongside criticism from US President Donald Trump, who lamented on Truth Social that the eradication of the USD 150 tourist rides strips away yet another cherished chapter of New York’s rich heritage.
New York City Moves to End Horse-Drawn Carriages More Than 160 Years Later Due to Indian Teen’s Death
