Horse-drawn carriages in New York's Central Park are to be abolished

New York horse-drawn carriages in Central Park will be abolished As of: October 23, 2026 • 10:36 a.m

An era is coming to an end in New York. Central Park's famous horse-drawn carriages will be phased out by June 2028. The city council approved a bill from Mayor Mamdani.

Hardly any topic heats up emotions in New York as much as the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. Animal rights activists have been calling for a ban on carriages for many years. The horses are poorly housed and overworked.

Traditionalists, on the other hand, argue that the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park belong to New York like the horse-drawn carriages belong to Vienna. US President Donald Trump also criticized the abolition of a “great tradition”. Another piece of history is disappearing from New York.

Several carriages stand one behind the other in Central Park in New York

Previous mayors always failed due to resistance from the horse-drawn carriage drivers' union or a lack of support in the city council. But the mood changed after a tragic accident in June. An 18-year-old tourist from India died in Central Park after a carriage horse galloped away in a panic.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani then presented his draft ban, which the city council now approved. New jobs are to be found for the almost 200 coach drivers by June 2028. One of the suggestions: in the future they could drive tourists through Central Park in special rickshaws. The coachmen's union announced that it would go to court.

This topic in the program: BR24 Radio | News | Oct 23, 2026 | 8:10 a.m