NYC’s Battle Over Horse Carriages Heats Up as Activists Spend Millions

The fight over New York City’s iconic horse-drawn carriages is back in full stride. The animal rights group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) has spent millions over the past decade pushing to end the practice — and replace it with electric alternatives. According to The New York Post, tax filings show the organization spent $1.27 million in 2022 alone, including nearly three-quarters of a million dollars on advertising and lobbying lawmakers.

At the center of their campaign is “Ryder’s Law,” named for a horse that collapsed and died on a Manhattan street in 2022. The proposed legislation, backed by Mayor Eric Adams, would ban horse carriages, relocate the animals to rescue farms, and provide job transition programs for current drivers. NYCLASS says it reflects a modern vision of compassion — one that prioritizes both worker welfare and animal protection.

The powerful Transport Workers Union (TWU), which represents the drivers, calls the movement a “smear campaign.” Union president John Samuelsen accused NYCLASS of hypocrisy, claiming its donors are motivated by real estate interests rather than empathy. But NYCLASS executive director Edita Birnkrant fired back, saying her group has rescued horses “discarded and sent to slaughter” and that “carriages are a dying, obsolete business being replaced in cities around the world.”

The debate reveals a deeper question about what kind of city New York wants to be — one that clings to nostalgic tourism or embraces humane, forward-looking change. For millions of visitors, the sight of horses pulling carriages through Central Park is charming. For others, it’s a symbol of exploitation in need of retirement.

With overwhelming public Support for Ryder’s Law, the movement to end carriage rides may finally be at a tipping point. Choosing compassion for animals and cleaner transport reflects a future where the planet — and its sentient beings — come first.

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: U.S. Government Must Stop Using Spyware to Hack Civilians’ Phones
• Petition: Find and Prosecute Those Behind the Wild Donkey Arrow Attacks in California
• Petition: Mandate HEPA Filters to Protect Us From Inhaling Microplastics

Related Content:

•  Carriage Horse Found Dead in Manhattan Sparks Renewed Calls for Ban
•  NYC Moves Closer to Ending Horse Carriages in Central Park
•  Carriage Horse and Car Collide on Fifth Avenue
•  Report Warns of Overlooked Miscarriages Due to Climate Crisis

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans. 
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!