New York City Council Passes Romanch's Law Banning Central Park Horse Carriages as Mayor Backs Transition Plan

City Council Enacts Landmark Legislation Phasing Out Horse-Drawn Carriages

NEW YORK CITY, New York — In a historic legislative milestone in late October 2026, the New York City Council voted decisively by a margin of 40 to 7 to pass Romanch's Law, enacting a permanent ban on horse-drawn tourist carriages across Central Park and city streets. The ordinance, introduced following prolonged civic campaigns and named in tribute to an individual tragically killed in a Midtown carriage collision, establishes a statutory transition period culminating in a complete operational phase-out by June 1, 2028.

Animal welfare organizations and pedestrian safety advocates commended the measure as a overdue reform modernizing Manhattan's parklands. Lawmakers emphasized that congested urban roadways with dense vehicular traffic and extreme seasonal temperatures present untenable conditions for draft animals, making modernized pedestrian pathways essential for public safety.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Pledges Union Job Retraining and Transition Support

Speaking from City Hall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated administrative support for animal protection while pledging robust municipal safeguards for unionized carriage drivers represented by Teamsters Local 553. Under the city's transition framework, displaced carriage operators will receive specialized vocational training, priority placement in municipal green-energy transit programs, and low-interest equipment transition financing should they pivot toward electric, vintage-styled touring vehicles.

City labor representatives noted that pairing compassionate animal welfare policies with guaranteed employment pipelines ensures working-class New Yorkers are protected during regulatory transitions.

Central Park Pedestrian Safety and Greenway Upgrades

In complementary park actions, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the Central Park Conservancy unveiled comprehensive design plans to convert former carriage holding lanes along Central Park South into expanded multi-use greenways and dedicated bicycle boulevards. Civic leaders emphasized that transforming the historic perimeter enhances accessibility for millions of annual park visitors while promoting sustainable zero-emission transit across Manhattan.