New York City moves toward banning horse-drawn carriages associated with Central Park, prompting a split reaction among residents and the people who operate them. In Central Park, some visitors welcome an end to the tradition, while drivers and coachmen say the change could threaten their incomes.
The outlets describe the practice as long-running—dating back to the 1800s and used for tourists as well as local sightseeing—while noting that animal welfare campaigners have criticised it. Reporting across sources frames the issue as a conflict between animal welfare concerns and the economic and cultural value some people attach to the carriage rides. Coverage points to an approaching policy decision as councillors prepare to move the vehicles out of the area.
