Some New Yorkers hail ban on horse-drawn carriages, but drivers fear for incomes
New York City is moving to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by 2028 due to animal welfare and public safety concerns. While activists celebrate the decision, carriage drivers are protesting the loss of their livelihoods and questioning the necessity of the ban.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historical tourist traditions and evolving ethical standards regarding animal treatment in urban environments.
Image caption, Drivers of horse-drawn carriages in Central Park are concerned for their future - while animal activists see the ban as a victory
After petting a carriage horse in New York's Central Park at the age of five, Alexus Lawson was hooked.
She has driven a carriage in Manhattan's most famous park, pulled by her horse, for six years. But since Lawson heard about the city's vote this week to outlaw the carriages over animal and public-safety concerns, she has been worried.
"What am I supposed to do with my horse?" asked the 28-year-old, who has been driving in the park for six years. "You're going to tell me I can't work with her anymore? How am I supposed to ensure her health?"
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