Central Park buggy drivers may have to carry their horses.
An ban on Central Park carriage horses is on the horizon, with the mayor inking an government order to crack down on the trade and Metropolis Corridor eyeing a wind-down of the decades-old custom by the top of 2026, The Submit has solely realized.
Mayor Eric Adams took a defiant stance towards the horse-drawn carriages in a Wednesday assertion, blasting them as vestiges of outdated New York that “not work for our metropolis” after three separate carriage horses ran wild by way of the park this summer time.
“Whereas horse-drawn carriages have lengthy been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they’re more and more incompatible with the circumstances of a contemporary, heavily-used city inexperienced area,” the mayor mentioned.
Whereas the New York Metropolis Council should approve an entire ban, Adams inked an government order Wednesday afternoon to “guarantee metropolis companies are doing every part of their energy to organize for a Metropolis Council ban on the horse carriage trade and to strengthen oversight and enforcement within the meantime.”
That enforcement would come with crackdowns on present laws by way of the Division of Client and Employee Safety, Parks, the well being division and NYPD.
Below the chief order, the NYPD is ordered to instantly prioritize enforcement towards horse-drawn carriages that illegally solicit fares or drive in site visitors and bicycle lanes — the latter of which can be inconceivable for buggies to keep away from given Central Park’s current loop redesign.
The Division of Transportation will research present areas the place passengers can board the buggies — and discover relocation spots to “less-frequented areas of Central Park.”
The Metropolis Council is now contemplating Ryder’s Regulation — named after a horse who collapsed and died — which goals to ban the carriages, but it surely has been caught within the well being committee since final summer time.
“By voicing an opinion, we’re hoping it would give [the legislation] a push,” a Metropolis Corridor rep mentioned.
“We want the Council to do their job, step up, and work with us on complete reform,” the mayor added.
Adams cited Ryder, in addition to the dying of fellow horse Woman simply final month, as among the “troubling incidents” that raised the alarm on the problem.
Wednesday’s government order, dubbed “getting ready for the cessation of horse-drawn carriages in New York Metropolis,” additionally described animal welfare considerations reminiscent of publicity to site visitors fumes, noise, laborious pavement and excessive warmth.
The information additionally comes lower than a month after the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that maintains the park, got here out towards horse-drawn carriages over “public well being and security” considerations following years of neutrality.
The manager order may also name on metropolis companies to establish “new employment alternatives” for these within the trade — notably throughout the tourism sector — and create a voluntary license return course of for drivers.
Metropolis Corridor mentioned it will be open to exploring an electrical carriage program “so New Yorkers and guests can proceed to benefit from the majesty of Central Park” or a horse secure contained in the inexperienced area.
“This isn’t about eliminating this custom — it’s about honoring our traditions in a means that aligns with who we’re at present,” Adams added.
“New Yorkers care deeply about animals, about equity, and about doing what’s proper.”
