Safety at Work
The death of a young tourist who jumped from a runaway horse carriage in Central Park earlier this month has spurred union drivers to demand hitching posts be installed throughout one of New York City’s most recognizable destinations.
“Our discussions with drivers and carriage owners over the past four days has reinforced our belief that hitching posts should be installed in the park,’’ said Alexander Kemp, president of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100.
Kemp noted that it is a commonsense safety upgrade that would enable drivers to tether their horses and prevent them from straying. We have suggested hitching posts as a preventative measure for years,’’ Kemp said.
In December 2025, the TWU wrote to the Central Park Conservancy President Betsy Smith regarding her concern after a horse left a carriage stand unattended.
Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after he got off the four-wheeled carriage as its horse sprinted through the park without a driver. He is believed to be the first person to die in a horse carriage accident since they were introduced into Central Park more than 150 years ago, according to the labor union representing the industry and the Central Park Conservancy, which manages the 843-acre park.
Animal rights activists have long said carriage horses are overworked, can get easily spooked on city streets and live in inadequate stables while their drivers regularly flaunt city rules. All these allegations have been denied by the horse and carriage owners, who say the animals are well cared for and the stables are fine.
But Animal League Defense Fund Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager Kathleen Schatzmann said that coming on the heels of the recent death of carriage horse Deniz, this latest tragedy makes clear that the continued operation of horse-drawn carriages in one of the world’s busiest urban environments places both horses and people at risk. “Meaningful reform is not overdue but it is urgently needed now,’’ Schatzmann said.
“Intro 0943 is local legislation that will wind down the horse drawn cab industry and provide workers with transitional support, and a hearing is scheduled in July,’’ according to Schatzmann.
The conservancy has also argued that horses can no longer safely share park roads teeming with joggers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorized scooters, noting that other U.S. cities, including Chicago and San Antonio, have recently done away with such nostalgic rides.
But carriage enthusiasts are quick to point out that carriage rides are still popular and safe in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Colonial Williamsburg, Va., Lake Chataqua in New York State and Aspen, Colorado.
The TWU union reports that it has renewed its call for the Health Department, or its designee, to start regular spot checks of rule compliance in the park while drivers and carriage owners consult with experts and pursue additional safety enhancements, such as tougher tests for driver applicants and new training programs.
City officials say safety teams are now stationed in the park as drivers return to service. The teams will provide oversight and retraining aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/17/us/central-park-horse-carriage-death-new-york
