New York City to ban horse-drawn carriages by 2028 after fatal accident

The New York City Council passed a bill to ban horse-drawn carriage rides by June 1, 2028, according to NBC News and ABC News. The decision follows the death of an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a carriage in Central Park this summer.

The legislation, known as Romanch's Law, prohibits issuing new licenses for horse-drawn cabs and forbids selling the horses to slaughterhouses, ABC News reported. The City Council vote was 40 to 7 with two abstentions, and the measure is veto-proof.

Animal rights groups and park advocates praised the ban, citing previous incidents where horses caused accidents or disturbances. However, the union representing carriage drivers plans to sue the city, opposing the ban, ABC News stated.

Previous mayors had pushed for the ban, but lacked sufficient City Council support until now. The victim's family attended the vote, highlighting the impact of the fatal accident that prompted renewed action.

The ban aims to phase out horse-drawn carriages in New York City, ending a practice often romanticized in media but increasingly scrutinized for safety and animal welfare concerns.