Central Park’s Most Famous Souvenir Ride Has an Expiry Date

The New York City Council passed a bill on Thursday, October 22, that will phase out the city’s horse-drawn carriage industry, ending a fixture of Central Park tourism that dates back more than 165 years. The measure now goes to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his signature.

Under the bill, the city will stop issuing licenses for carriage horses, horse-drawn cabs and their drivers on June 1, 2028, and existing licenses will lapse at the end of May that year. Permits will remain available for parades, weddings and film shoots. The legislation also requires the “humane disposition” of the horses once the trade winds down.

For the more than 150 active drivers, the city must have a transition plan in place by April 2027, including possible compensation for owners’ businesses, licenses and equipment. The push gained fresh momentum after a teenage tourist died in June in an incident involving a runaway carriage horse. A borough analysis of public records counted 96 serious incidents and 40 horse deaths near Central Park since 1982.

The fight may not be over. Transport Workers Union Local 100 says it will challenge the law in federal court, and drivers argue a ride through the park is part of the city’s folklore. The Central Park Conservancy has said it does not expect visitor numbers to fall, with about 42 million people visiting the park each year. Travelers planning a carriage ride have roughly a year and a half left to take one.

Sources: Skift