Text by Stephen Harmon and Carol Tannenhauser. Photographs by Stephen Harmon
I have loved photographing the horses and their carriages and their drivers with their top hats.
When I started, I did not view them as political, rather as one of NYC’s most enduring visual icons.
Over the decades that changed as groups and individuals grew increasingly intent on banning the horse-drawn carriages from the city, opposed by the Transport Workers Union International, “which advocates for hundreds of carriage drivers who make a living shuttling tourists on buggies around the park,” Politico said. “The first serious effort to outlaw the city’s carriage industry came in 2010,” during the Bloomberg administration. Mayors Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams also tried to ban the horse-drawn carriages, but failed.
Now, Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears to have succeeded, announcing on Tuesday that “he will back a bill that would make it illegal to operate a horse-drawn carriage in the city, starting in June 2028,” Politico first reported. It is called “Romanch’s Law,” after the 18-year-old Indian tourist who was killed in a tragic horse-and-carriage accident this past summer.
With the mayor’s support, Council Speaker Julie Menin has scheduled a full Council vote on the bill for Oct. 22. “The legislation has already secured formal support from more than half of the Council’s 51 members, meaning it’s on a glidepath to becoming law,” Politico said.
I’m glad to share these soon-to-be historic photos.
Steve
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What a shame The carriages are a part of the city. I bet if they did a study there were more accidents than carriage accidents why don’t they get rid of them instead of the horses. It is impossible to cross a street in Ny with out taking your life in your hands. It is much safer to take a carriage ride.
Banning horse-drawn carriages from NYC for the dangers they present is exactly like banning cars (or bicycles) because they can kill people—insane. I will miss contact with horses, our work and civilizing companions, in NYC.
I’m not sure what you mean by “contact with the horses. I’ve lived in New York City for over 40 years and never once had contact with horses in Central Park ! They have blinders on are not in good moods, which horses are in other environments and they have the men in charge of them who are usually grumpy and only out to make money! I seen this for my entire time in New York city so I’m not sure what you are talking about-I have had contact with horses in other environments where the horses are treated better and more in their habitat which is not 57th St.!
1 death in 160 years. E-bikes have killed more people in Central Park that that.
June 2028 is WAY too long but finally some progress!! Mayor Mamdani succeeds after 16 years of previous mayors failures. Like I said, he keeps racking up the wins!
Now do e-bikes!
Does anyone remember the beautiful old Currier and Ives pronts— New York City when horse-drawn carriages decorated every scene? Sigh. How l will miss them! Now all is turning robotic and we humans are ourselves becoming more and more like machines. Very sad…
These are beautiful. Thanks for sharing
The death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan was heartbreaking. His family deserves compassion, and the City must investigate thoroughly and address any safety deficiencies. But one tragedy does not, by itself, justify abolishing an entire industry.
Since the carriage controversy began, New Yorkers have witnessed other serious and fatal transportation incidents, including an e-bike striking a woman in Central Park, a cyclist collision that killed father of two Richard O’Brien, and several fatal crashes involving bicycles, e-bikes, and motor vehicles.
Each death deserves investigation and prevention measures. The City Council has considered 23 proposals addressing micromobility safety. Why shouldn’t horse-drawn carriages receive the same opportunity for meaningful safety reform?
Improve training, equipment, hitching practices, emergency procedures, inspections, and enforcement. If independent review establishes that the risks cannot adequately be addressed, consider that evidence before deciding the industry’s fate.
Animal welfare concerns deserve serious consideration, as do public safety and the livelihoods of working New Yorkers. Preserve what can be preserved by addressing risks responsibly.
Public safety requires consistent, evidence-based decisions: investigate, improve, and enforce—and prohibit only when evidence shows regulation cannot adequately address the risk.
I’m fine with this.
I think your pictures are great and in the past, it has been kind of a New
York City image and thing to do, but I do believe right now it’s time to relogate that to the past. There is no way that it is a good environment for horses. It’s dangerous and it’s overpriced… Something from the last century to look back on.
What will happen o the horses? I hope they will find a good home and not be butchered….
It’s about time.
Okay, I’m going to say it. I think this is a shame. If it were me I would keep the carriages and enforce regulations to ensure the horses are well cared for. The cyclists are like a million times more dangerous to others– I’d ban ebikes and enforce rules on cyclists.
For what it’s worth, I’m politically on the left and I care a lot about animal rights. But someone I know breeds horses and he said the horses he sees in the park look well cared for, and that this particular kind of horse is bred to work. I have a feeling many of these carriage horses will end up euthanized because no one will have the wherewithal to take care of them if they aren’t aren’t bringing in income.
Beautiful captures!