Mayor Adams Calls For Ban On NYC Horse Carriage Industry, Backs Ryder's Law

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams has called for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City and has signed an executive order that would phase out the industry by the end of the year.

Adam's executive order calls for city agencies to identify new employment opportunities for industry workers and to create a process for the voluntary return of carriage licenses.

In addition, police will “prioritize enforcement” against horse-drawn carriages operating outside their legally designated areas to illegally solicit fares or impede traffic.

The mayor also announced his support for Ryder's Law, calling on the City Council to pass the bill into law.

The proposed legislation would stop new carriage licenses from being issued and halt operations entirely beginning in June 2026.

Retired horses would be placed in humane settings, preventing them being put for sale to other carriage businesses.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection would be tasked to create a workforce development program to help drivers and other workers transition into new jobs.

“While horse-drawn carriages have long been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they are increasingly incompatible with the conditions of a modern, heavily-used urban green space,” he said in a statement. “It has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city," Adams said in a statement on Wednesday.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Chiarello told AMNY that Adams' decision to back the legislation and ban was an “absolute disgrace” and a betrayal of working-class New Yorkers.

A spokesperson for the NYC Council criticized Mayor Adams for using the issue for political gain.

"Mayor Adams politically using it for his reelection campaign is opportunistic and not helpful,”

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio who tried to shut down the industry during his tenure, reacted to the decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter)

“It really is time to get this done,” he wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.