NYC council votes to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028

New York City Council has passed a landmark bill that would permanently ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park and city streets. It could mark the end of an era and the beginning of the countdown to the end of a century-old New York tradition. If signed by the mayor, the ban will take effect in June 2028. The legislation, known as Romance's Law, passed by an overwhelming 40-7 vote. The catalyst was a tragedy. In June 2026, 18-year-old Indian tourist Romance Mahajan was killed after a horse bolted, throwing him from a carriage. The incident sparked an immediate public outcry, fueling calls for reforms and giving the legislation its name. After years of bitter debate between animal rights advocates and carriage drivers, the City Council has now voted to bring the tradition to an end. Backed by Mayor Zoran Vondani and Council Speaker Julie Minneman, the legislation also prohibits the sale of the horses for slaughter or their transfer to other commercial carriage operations. While animal welfare groups are welcoming the decision, the bill has also raised serious concerns about the livelihoods of those who depended on the industry. Nearly 200 carriage drivers, stable hands and other workers now face an uncertain future. The Transport Workers Union, which represents the workers, has vowed to challenge the legislation in court. Mayor Vondani has also voiced concerns about the need to protect workers affected by the ban. The city has set a deadline of April next year to finalise a comprehensive workforce transition plan. The bill also calls for exploring potential compensation for carriage licence holders. For generations, horse-drawn carriages have been part of New York's cultural landscape. Immortalized in film and television, from Robert Redford and Jane Fonda's scenes in Barefoot in the Park to a memorable carriage ride in Sex and the City, well, the rides have long been a familiar feature of the city's romantic image. Today, a 45-minute ride can cost around $150, with premium experiences including marriage proposals running into several hundred dollars. But for now, the carriages will continue to roll through Manhattan. But if the mayor signs the bill, the countdown to June 2028 will begin, bringing a controversial century-old New York tradition closer to its final chapter.