The Central Park Conservancy has officially endorsed Ryder’s Law, a City Council bill proposing to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, marking a significant shift from its previous neutral stance. The Conservancy cited public health and safety concerns following recent incidents involving runaway horses in Central Park, as well as damage to park infrastructure and hygiene issues caused by the carriages. This move comes amid heightened tensions between animal rights activists, who have pushed for the ban following the deaths of two carriage horses, Ryder and Lady, and carriage drivers who defend their profession as humane and essential to their livelihoods.

The bill, named after Ryder, a horse that collapsed in 2022, has sparked fierce debate, with animal rights advocates demanding its passage and coach drivers, represented by the TWU 100 union, warning of job losses for about 200 workers. The union criticized the Conservancy’s support for the ban as disregarding the economic impact on blue-collar workers and instead called for restrictions on e-bikes and e-mopeds in the park, which have recently been approved for year-round use by the Parks Department. This controversy highlights ongoing conflicts over the future of transportation and animal welfare in Central Park.