Central Park Conservancy backs bill to phase out carriage horses from park
CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (WABC) -- In a rare move, the Central Park Conservancy announced its support for a bill that would ban horses and carriages from the park, saying that the practice no longer fits the realities of today's busy, shared space.
There were no horse-drawn carriages in Central Park on Tuesday. They are restricted in hot weather.
This is what the park would look like in about three years if a bill in the City Council passes that would phase the horse carriages out.
"We have to balance the needs of 42 million human visitors every year against 68 horse carriages," said David Saltonstall, Central Park Conservancy Vice President of Government Relations.
On Tuesday, the Central Park Conservancy, which has until now maintained neutrality on the issue, announced its support for the bill.
The reasons given were not for the safety of the carriage horses, like one that collapsed and died in Hell's Kitchen last week, but for the park's growing number of pedestrians.
"We're just getting increasingly concerned about the danger that they're posed as the as the park gets more and more crowded," Saltonstall said.
In May, a carriage horse broke free and galloped, and two carriages collided inside the park, incidents the Conservancy says may be infrequent but are very dangerous.
"They're more interested in making the park a place for anybody with an e-bike or e-vehicle to just come and zoom around. It's total chaos," said carriage driver Christina Hansen, a shop steward for TWU Local 100.
Hansen argues the Conservancy's supposed to uphold the park's architect's vision of a tranquil respite at a slower pace, which carriages have always been a part of, and that's been disrupted by all the speeding.
She points to the new designations in the right lanes of the park drives for faster bikes, when that's also the only lane for carriages.
"It has created a perception among the bicyclists that the entire park drive is theirs to use," Hansen said.
The Conservancy also argues there's more wear and tear in those lanes now from horseshoes and carriages, and that manure isn't being cleaned up.
"We're well aware of the history that horses play and the role of the park, and we honor that history," Saltonstall said. "But the world has changed, and the park has changed. And I think it's time for everybody to recognize that."
On Tuesday night, animal rights advocates were applauding the Conservancy's announcement of support for the bill, while the carriage driver's union called it outrageous, saying the bill would kill 200 jobs.
It's called "Ryder's Law," after the horse named Ryder who collapsed in 2022.
The law would provide job retraining for about 200 carriage drivers for after their three-year licenses expire, and humane re-homing for the horses.
It has 19 sponsors in the City Council. It's not clear yet if it has the mayor's support.
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