In the midst of the ongoing debate over horse carriages in New York City, a new deal has sparked protests from both horse carriage and pedicab drivers at City Hall. The agreement, which aims to resolve the contentious issue that Mayor de Blasio has wrestled with for two years, has drawn ire from various quarters. Horse carriage drivers are concerned about job losses, while park advocates are alarmed by the cost associated with building a new stable in Central Park—a project that some doubt will ever materialize. The plan is designed to keep horses away from the busy midtown streets, enhancing their welfare, according to the mayor.
Pedicab drivers are particularly aggrieved by a provision in the deal that would prohibit their operation in most of Central Park, specifically banning them from areas south of 85th Street. This restriction, they argue, would devastate their business, as it would prevent them from accessing the park’s more popular southern attractions. The outcry is so strong that pedicab drivers, who also have families to support, have marched around City Hall in protest and are considering legal action.
The mayor’s plan involves cutting the number of carriage horses from 220 to 95 and constructing a stable within Central Park to house them, with only 75 horses allowed to work in the park at any given time. This reduction in the number of horses and the proposed ban on pedicabs in parts of Central Park have sparked a broad backlash, including from lawyers who argue that the plan lacks practicality and fairness.
Mayor de Blasio maintains that horses do not belong on the streets of a bustling metropolis like New York, emphasizing the safety and welfare of the horses. However, with widespread dissatisfaction among those affected by the proposed changes, the deal now faces a critical vote at the City Council. Given the strong opposition, its approval is far from certain, indicating that the debate over the presence of horse carriages and pedicabs in Central Park is far from over.
For more information:
https://abc7ny.com/central-park-horse-carriage-pedicab-city-hall/1165540/