Carriage rides in Central Park resumed Tuesday after a several-day halt, and much backlash, in the wake of the death of an 18-year-old tourist killed in a runaway horse incident last week.
Romanch Mahajan, 18, is believed to be the first person to die in a horse carriage accident since the rides were introduced in Central Park more than 150 years ago, according to the labor union representing the industry and the Central Park Conservancy. He and his family had come from India for their first trip to New York City.
The young man’s death reignited calls to ban carriage rides in the park.
In response, the union representing the carriage drivers announced a “safety stand-down” that lasted through the weekend, shuttering stables and offering no rides as it reevaluated safety rules and protocols. Drivers had refresher training Monday, including on how to “secure and maintain control of carriage horse at all times.”
Mahajan is believed to be the first person to die in a horse carriage accident since they were introduced in 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.
A woman from South Carolina who took a ride once they resumed Tuesday said she heard about what happened, felt safe and had a great time. She did say, though, she may have reconsidered if she hadn’t pre-booked.
According to the Central Park Conservancy, the 18-year-old’s death was the eighth horse-related incident in the park over the last 13 months.
Animal rights activists have long said that carriage horses are overworked, can get easily spooked on city streets and live in inadequate stables while their drivers regularly flout city rules. All of those allegations have been denied by the horse and carriage owners, who say the animals are well cared for and the stables are fine.
The conservancy has 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 also recently done away with the nostalgic rides.
But carriage industry leaders said the fatal crash underscores the need for better protections, not outright elimination of the quaint attraction that harkens back to a romanticized, bygone New York.
Meanwhile, the owner of the carriage involved in last week’s fatal crash suspended the driver indefinitely and plans to retire the horse from the business, according to the union. The union said the driver improperly dismounted to take a photograph of his passengers.
The Central Park carriage rides cost about $72 for the first 20 minutes.
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