NYC To Move Horse-Carriage Boarding Area Into Central Park
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is announcing a plan to move the carriage horses that line up along the southern edge of Central Park to designated boarding spots inside the park.
The Democrat promised during his 2013 mayoral campaign to ban the horses and buggies "on Day One." But a bill to phase out the industry died amid opposition from carriage horse supporters.
Under the plan announced Thursday, horse-drawn carriages awaiting fares would be relocated from Central Park South to five boarding areas inside the park.
"It's just a nightmare for these horses stuck on CPS day and night under the blazing sun," said Edita Birnkrant- Executive Director NYClass.
City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg says the move will reduce the amount of time horses spend next to car traffic.
But Elizabeth Forel of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages says the horses could still become spooked and bolt inside the park.
"What the city is proposing to do is bury us in the park where tourists and others who want to use our services can't see us," said carriage industry spokesperson Christina Hansen.
"We are a traffic calming device. The taxis and Ubers and everybody knows there are horses here so they go slower they drive more cautiously," she said.
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