New York City – Vote to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City is coming closer to a final vote. If the vote passes the ban would take effect by June 2028. Previously known as Ryder’s Law and was renamed “Romanch’s Law” after the death June 17, 2026 of Romanch Mahajan, a tourist from India age 18 visiting with family; occurred on Central Park’s Cherry Hill. The horse bolted and Romanch fell out of carriage.
The bill will be presented at the next council meeting in August for further discussion for a ban. No firm date on a final vote is set. There are 68 carriage licenses presently with approximately 160 rotating horses. Horse-drawn carriage rides began in Central Park around 1863. If the ban passes there will be a major challenge of finding homes for the carriage horses as well responsibility of cost coverage.
Hunter Wells/Nancy Ann Peterson, photographer 11:00 am, July 20, 2026