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A bill is being introduced by Queens Democratic Councilman Robert Holden to finally replace horse-drawn carriages with electric ones by June 1, 2024. The legislation would give horse drivers preference for licenses to operate the new electric carriages. It also requires them to be paid prevailing or union wages set by the city comptroller.

Source: Equine Advocates/Youtube

Nine other Council members have signed the bill, and they are expected to discuss the measure at a press conference this week. Ani-horse carriage groups intend to spend seven figures on campaigns to help the bill pass through council and get signed by Mayor Eric Adams, The Post reported.

“This campaign is putting innovation over exploitation by replacing 19th Century horse carriages with safe, humane 21st Century electric carriages,” said NYCLASS executive director Edita Birnkrant.

“Unlike horses, electric carriages do not get spooked in busy traffic. Drivers will get more take home pay and benefits. Midtown streets will be safer for all, and animals will no longer be abused or neglected. The year is 2022, not 1822. It’s long overdue for city leaders to transition away from carriage horses and end this obsolete abuse once and for all, as most other large cities have already done. Let’s pass this bill and get it done.”

Animal rights activists and animal lovers have long attempted to ban the use of horses to transport tourists. The electric carriages would be low-speed vehicles that would be limited to three miles per hour in Central Park, according to the bill. Drivers would be able to work more, get better pay, and better benefits than they do now using live animals.

Unfortunately, these exhausted prisoners for profit often collapse and are treated horribly. In March, a horse in Central Park stumbled multiple times before finally collapsing on the pavement, and multiple men continued to try to make the animal stand up.

Similarly, a few months ago, a heartbreaking video was shared on Facebook showing carriage drivers in NYC violently mishandling a collapsed horse named Luciana.

Horse-drawn carriages and horse rides are not quaint and romantic! These poor horses are subject to walking for hours on end in sometimes extreme weather without adequate breaks. We need to work toward banning carriage rides and protecting these animals from being exploited!

Sign this petition and tell New York that it’s time to end horse-drawn carriage rides.

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