New York City to end iconic horse-drawn carriage rides after teenager's death

New York City is to end horse carriage rides through Central Park following the "tragic and preventable" death of a teenager earlier this year.

The City Council is expected to approve a bill next week that would end the rides - which have been going for more than 150 years - by 2028.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the news on X on Wednesday, saying, "The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City."

The move comes after decades of campaigning by animal welfare activists and the death of an 18-year-old tourist from India in June.

Romanch Mahajan died after jumping from a runaway horse carriage during a ride with family members.

His death appeared to be the first fatality in a horse carriage accident since they were introduced in Central Park.

It reignited the debate over whether carriages, a romantic throwback to the city's past, have a place in a modern metropolis.

His father, Deepak Mahajan, told city council members on a video call during a hearing for the bill in the summer that they are "shattered".

"The pain does not go away," he said, adding, "Every morning we wake up and think of nothing but the loss of our son."

He said Romanch leapt from the carriage to try to help his mother, who was thrown from her seat after the horse bolted.

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In the past, horses have collapsed, gotten startled and run off, hitting cars or other objects, with each accident resulting in fresh calls for a ban.

Council speaker Julie Menin said in a statement: "The tragic and preventable death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan made clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable... this tradition has become a growing public safety liability."

Horse carriage rides have appeared in several films and TV shows, including Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.

Conor McHugh, a longtime carriage driver, told the council earlier this year a horse and carriage ride in the city is "one of the most iconic things to do in New York City".

The proposal tasks the mayor with developing a workforce transition plan for drivers and allows for the chance of compensation for industry workers.

Carriage owners could not sell their horses off for slaughter, as horses must be disposed of in a "humane manner".

(c) Sky News 2026: New York City to end iconic horse-drawn carriage rides after teenager's death