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NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin backs bill to end Central Park horse-drawn carriages
By
Phil Corso
Published Jul 14, 2026
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By
Phil Corso
Published Jul 14, 2026
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City Council Speaker Julie Menin has thrown her support behind legislation to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, becoming the first sitting Council speaker to publicly back the proposal.
The bill, known as Romanch's Law and previously called Ryder's Law, comes after the death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was thrown from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park last month. The Council's Health Committee is set to hold its first hearing on the legislation Wednesday.
Menin said the legislation would begin "the transition away from horse-drawn carriages as a tourist attraction in Central Park" while ensuring protections for workers and the horses.
"[Romanch's] death was heartbreaking, and it was preventable," she said in a statement. "That tragedy is why I have decided to support Romanch’s Law, legislation that would begin the transition away from horse-drawn carriages as a tourist attraction in Central Park — for the safety of New Yorkers, visitors from around the world, and the horses themselves."
The proposal has also garnered support from the Central Park Conservancy, which released a poll showing that most New Yorkers favor banning the carriages.
Councilmember Christopher Marte from Manhattan, the bill's sponsor, welcomed the speaker's endorsement.
"I want to thank Speaker Menin for her support of Romanch's Law and for her leadership in recognizing the urgency of this moment," Marte said in a statement. "Romanch's death was preventable, and the Speaker's leadership brings us closer to finally ending an industry that has put passengers, workers, parkgoers and horses at risk for too long."
The union representing carriage drivers has opposed an outright ban, arguing that stricter regulations would better protect both workers and horses.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he supports ending horse-drawn carriage rides but has also called for measures to ensure drivers keep their jobs.
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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