Central Park Horse Carriages Could Be On Their Way Out. Here’s When

The City Council will vote Oct. 22 on a bill that would end carriage rides and help drivers transition to new jobs.

By Miranda Levingston, Patch Staff

Oct 14, 2026 2:49 PM EDT

CENTRAL PARK, NY — The New York City Council will vote next week on legislation to phase out horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, months after an 18-year-old was killed in a runaway carriage incident this summer.

Council Speaker Julie Menin said Wednesday that the full Council will vote on Romanch's Law on Oct. 22. The bill has 29 co-sponsors, according to Menin's office.

The legislation is named for Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park.

Advocates and community members have called for an end to the industry, citing safety and animal welfare concerns as the park grows more crowded with pedestrians, cyclists and other users.

If passed, the bill would prohibit new carriage licenses and ban the operation of all horse-drawn carriages beginning June 1, 2028.

"The tragic and preventable death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan made clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable," Menin said.

The legislation would also require the mayor's administration to create employment programs for carriage drivers and other industry workers.

Those programs would include job referrals, career counseling, placement assistance, hiring events and information about education and tuition assistance. The bill also calls for a program to help carriage owners find humane homes for their horses.

Menin's office is forming a working group with representatives from the administration and labor to help guide the transition.

The Council held a hearing on the carriage industry at City Hall in July, after Menin called for a review following Mahajan's death.

The Central Park Conservancy backed the legislation, saying the phaseout should protect public safety.

"We hope for a safe phaseout over the next 20 months that will protect New Yorkers and ensure no one else ever suffers the fate of Romanch Mahajan," said Betsy Smith, the conservancy's president and CEO.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.