New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called for an end to horse-drawn carriages and signed an executive order directing city agencies to increase oversight of the industry. Announcing the plan on Wednesday, September 17th, Mayor Adams urged the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, a proposal that would phase out horse carriages and replace them with electric alternatives.
Mayor Adams also sent the Council a letter of necessity, allowing lawmakers to fast-track the bill if they choose. While the legislation has stalled for more than a year, the mayor insisted that the growing safety risks in Central Park make action urgent.
“While horse-drawn carriages have long been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they are increasingly incompatible with the conditions of a modern, heavily-used urban green space,” Adams explained. “It has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city.”
The executive order instructs the NYPD to crack down on carriages that operate outside legal zones, solicit fares illegally, or block traffic. The Department of Transportation will review carriage pickup spots in Central Park and consider moving them to less crowded areas. Mayor Adams announced that the city will offer a license buyback program, assist drivers in finding new employment opportunities, and explore the use of electric carriages.
The announcement follows several high-profile incidents, including the 2022 collapse and death of a horse named Ryder and another carriage horse that died last month. Animal welfare advocates have long advocated for a ban, citing concerns over safety and humane treatment.
Reactions were divided. Animal rights groups praised the announcement as overdue, while union leaders and some officials criticized it. Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen called it a “desperation act” and accused Mayor Adams of betraying working-class New Yorkers. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams labeled the move “opportunistic and not helpful,” while Councilmember Robert Holden, a sponsor of Ryder’s Law, welcomed the support and urged colleagues to pass the bill.
The proposal now awaits consideration by the City Council, where it faces longstanding political and economic debates over the future of the horse carriage industry.
