NYC bill to ban horse carriages to be renamed for teen killed in Central Park crash

Key Points:

• The City Council bill originally known as Ryder’s Law, which aims to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, will be renamed Romanch’s Law in honor of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist fatally injured during a carriage ride last week.
• The bill, first introduced in 2022 and reintroduced this year by Councilman Chris Marte, seeks to address safety concerns for passengers, workers, pedestrians, and horses following multiple incidents, including the deaths of horses Ryder and Deniz.
• Mahajan died after the carriage driver left the horse unattended to take a photo, causing the horse to bolt; the driver has been suspended and the horse retired, prompting calls for a full investigation.
• A vigil to announce the bill’s renaming will be held at Central Park’s Cherry Hill Fountain, and a City Council hearing on the legislation is scheduled for July, signaling renewed momentum for the ban.
• Romanch’s Law proposes ending horse-drawn carriages while providing support for workers to transition into safer jobs, reflecting growing political and public support for the measure.