New York Carriage Ban Bill Renamed for Fatal Central Park Accident Victim

The proposed legislation, previously known as Ryder’s Law after a horse that collapsed in 2022, aims to phase out the industry by halting new license issuances. If passed, the bill would prohibit all horse-drawn cab operations starting June 1, 2028. The shift in naming follows the death of Mahajan, who sustained fatal injuries while attempting to assist his mother after their carriage horse bolted during a ride.

Advocacy groups, including The Animal Legal Defence Fund and the Central Park Conservancy, have intensified calls for a permanent ban, citing eight horse-related incidents in the park over the past thirteen months. The Mahajan family issued a public plea to halt the resumption of carriage tours, calling the industry's decision to continue operations while they plan a funeral an insult. Current regulations permit horses to work nine hours daily, seven days a week, a schedule critics argue exposes both animals and the public to unnecessary danger in dense urban traffic.