New York bans Central Park horse-drawn carriages from June 2028 under 'Romanch's Law'

New York City Council voted on Thursday 22 October to ban horse-drawn carriage rides, ending a Central Park tradition that dates back more than 160 years to the park's opening, CBS News reported. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office says he will sign it.

The measure is called Romanch's Law, after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who died in June when a runaway horse overturned his family's carriage in Central Park. "We want to make sure Romanch's death was not in vain," the family's lawyer, Saggar Chadha, said.

What the law does

Council Speaker Julie Menin, who sponsored the bill, called the carriages "a growing public safety liability", noting that 42 million people use Central Park every year. The Central Park Conservancy counted eight more carriage incidents in the park in the 13 months after the June death, ABC reported. The first council bill to end the trade was introduced 19 years ago.

Who is against it

• The drivers' union: the Transport Workers Union says the bill offers "no meaningful economic relief" and is preparing to challenge it in federal court. Its lawyer says the required economic impact analysis was left blank.
• Carriage owners: owners rallied at City Hall. One, Francesco Riccobono, said he invested $400,000 two years ago. The union says the bill only asks the city to "consider" compensating owners who bought city medallions.
• President Trump called the end of the industry "sad" and said it was driven by a single accident.

What it means if you are visiting

Pakistani families visiting New York can still take a carriage ride through Central Park until the end of May 2028, unless a court blocks or speeds up the law. After that, the park's pedicabs and walking tours remain. Planning the trip? Check today's dollar rate and convert costs with our currency converter.

Mamdani had said over the summer that he backed the aim but wanted strong protections for workers.