Some places are built around clichés, true for us in Italy as well as for cities abroad. New York, for example, carries the image of romantic strolls in Central Park during early dates and of kisses exchanged right aboard the iconic horse-drawn carriages… but all of this might remain only imprinted in our memory and in the most famous films. In fact, NYC could say goodbye to its famous tourist attractions for ethical reasons.
Farewell to Central Park Carriages?
For those who have visited New York at least once, the Central Park carriages are a familiar presence. Horses, coachmen, tourists with smartphones in hand and couples seeking their own film-ready moment. For almost 170 years this tradition has been carried forward but now everything changes: during NYC’s City Council meeting held on October 22, 2026 a law was approved that provides for the end of horse-drawn carriage operation starting from June 2028. A decision that comes after years of discussion, protests, and failed attempts to change the rules. The carriages have been in the park since 1858, when they were a real mode of transportation. Over time they have become a tourist experience, often quite expensive. A 45-minute ride can reach about $150 (roughly €135), while for special occasions, like a marriage proposal, the bill can rise significantly.
Why They Could Disappear
Behind the romantic atmosphere, however, there lies a far less Instagram-friendly issue. Animal welfare groups have long denounced the conditions in which the horses work, amid traffic, summer heat, and crowded streets. Several incidents, some fatal, have reignited the controversy.
The most dramatic case dates back to June 17, 2026, when Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old Indian tourist, died after being jolted from a carriage whose horse had suddenly bolted. A tragedy that accelerated the political debate, so much so that the new law bears his name: Romanch’s Law. The decision, however, is not universally agreed upon. For about 150 drivers it would mean losing a job, often passed down from generation to generation. The Transport Workers Union has already announced legal action. The plan includes support measures to help workers find new employment and protections for the nearly 200 horses involved. The animals cannot be sold to slaughterhouses nor redirected to other tourism transportation activities with carriages.
Films and TV Series in Which They Appear
All it takes is a carriage crossing Central Park to instantly know where we are. Skyscrapers, neon signs, or the Statue of Liberty are not required. An example comes from Barefoot in the Park, the 1967 comedy featuring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. Among the city-related moments there is also a carriage ride, perfectly aligned with that New York atmosphere of complicated loves, small quarrels, and reconciliations. But it is primarily Sex and the City that helped make the carriages part of the Manhattan dream. In the series with Sarah Jessica Parker, the Big Apple is never merely the backdrop to Carrie Bradshaw’s and her friends’ stories. It is almost an additional character.
