For the first time, the Central Park Conservancy has publicly supported a City Council bill, known as “Ryder’s Law,” that seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by 2026. The Conservancy cited safety concerns, damage to the park’s roads, and incompatibility with increasing visitor numbers as reasons for backing the legislation. This stance follows recent incidents where horses broke free and caused injuries, as well as the death of a carriage horse in Hell’s Kitchen, which reignited debate over the future of the carriage trade. The bill aims to phase out carriage horses and assist drivers in transitioning to other jobs.

The carriage industry, which includes about 231 licensed drivers and 183 horses, has faced strong opposition from the Transport Workers Union International, representing the drivers. The union criticized the Conservancy’s position as disregarding the livelihoods of roughly 200 workers and argued that horse-drawn carriages are part of Central Park’s historic design. Despite the bill having 19 sponsors, it has yet to receive a hearing since its introduction in 2022. The debate highlights tensions between preserving tradition and addressing modern concerns about animal welfare and public safety.