New York City Council has passed a ban on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, set to take effect in June 2028. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.

Horse-drawn carriages have been a traditional tourist activity in Manhattan's most famous park for over 160 years, but have become controversial over animal welfare and public safety concerns. The city council vote took place on Thursday, backing the ban. The proposal is supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who says he will help develop a transition plan for workers in the industry.

There are roughly 200 horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park. One of them is 28-year-old Alexus Lawson, who has driven a carriage with her horse for six years. Since hearing about the ban, she has been worried. "What am I supposed to do with my horse? You're going to tell me I can't work with her anymore? How am I supposed to ensure her health?" she asks.

Drivers like Lawson say they do not want new jobs and dispute claims their horses are mistreated. However, many New Yorkers and tourists welcome the ban. "There were a few cases of horses dying in the middle of the park. You can clearly see that they're not taken care of," said New York resident Ron Tsur.

According to the Manhattan Borough President's office, 40 horses working in Central Park have died since 1982 due to issues including overheating and collisions. Previously, city leaders sought a ban under pressure from animal-rights activists but faced pushback from city council members and unions.

This summer, the ban movement gained new momentum: in June, 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan from India was in a carriage when the horse bolted, causing him to fall out and die. The planned ban is named Romanch's Law after the teen, and also follows the death this year of a carriage horse named Deniz, who ate a toxic plant in Central Park.

The Central Park Conservancy, the non-profit that manages the park and supports the ban, said that over the past 13 months alone there had been seven "horse-related incidents." In May, a driver was taken to the hospital after a spooked horse hit another carriage, causing it to tip over. In January, another horse named Destiny ran into traffic near the park, causing a multi-car collision.

Lawson, who owns six horses, points out that New York City carriages are the most regulated in the country and says horses enjoy the stimulation. "They look at an animal in harness and they see a trap. They see a job as something that's terrible. Horses are working animals," she says.

Medet Fidan, a carriage driver for 12 years, feels similarly attached to his horse and calls allegations of mistreatment a joke. "I spend more time with my horses than my wife and my kids. They're telling me I'm abusing my horse? No way," he says. Fidan is angry that officials are passing a ban without talking in-person to drivers and others in the industry. "If you don't listen to me, how can you come and kill my business, destroy my family's, my livelihood?" he asks.

The city council held a hearing in July, inviting community members, including horse-carriage drivers, to comment. The legislation to end horse-drawn carriages proposes an "industry transition framework" including potential job placement, training, career counselling, and financial compensation. A spokesperson for Mamdani said his office was involved in planning to find new jobs for these workers, who make around $60,000 to $70,000 a year, according to drivers who spoke at the city council hearing.

But the Transport Workers Union, which represents the drivers, said the plan did not include guarantees, including compensation, and that the workers would be "economically wiped out." The union also raised concerns about a lack of funding for individuals and organisations who eventually take in the horses. It argued that thousands end up at slaughter auctions each year. The bill forbids selling horses for slaughter or for similar work.

Though carriage drivers say they are committed to the health of their horses, concerns over the animals' well-being have been raised in the city for decades.