Press Release
Majority support for banning carriages found across all boroughs and tested demographic groups
Broad awareness of recent Central Park carriage tragedy shapes public opinion
NEW YORK, NY—A new poll finds that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support ending horse-drawn carriage operations in the city. The mixed-mode survey of 834 New York City adults, conducted from June 30 through the morning of July 4, found that 68% support legislation to prohibit horse-drawn carriage operations in the city, compared to 20% who oppose it. Twelve percent of respondents remain undecided. Majority support for a ban on horse carriages was found in all 83 subgroups tested, across age, gender, borough, race, education, income, party, and other demographics in the city, indicating a broad consensus among New Yorkers.
The methodologically rigorous poll combined text-to-web and online interviewing to maximize reach and representativeness, and was weighted to reflect the latest U.S. Census estimates. The survey found especially strong public support for ending the practice of horse carriages among frequent Central Park visitors (72% among those who visit at least a few times a year), parents (74%), college graduates (76%), and younger adults (72% of those aged 18-44).
Supporters of a ban are distributed evenly among union and non-union households (69% and 68%, respectively), and strongly represented outside of Manhattan (e.g., 68% in Brooklyn and 71% in Queens). It is also popular across the partisan spectrum, with 73% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans, and 60% of Independents all support ending horse carriages.
“The verdict from this survey is overwhelming and unmistakable,” said Adam Carlson, Founding Partner of Zenith Research, which conducted the poll on behalf of the Central Park Conservancy. “Across every borough and every major demographic group, New Yorkers support ending horse-drawn carriage operations. City leaders don't have to guess where the public stands on this – they've made it clear that they want to retire this practice once and for all.”
“The numbers tell a very clear story: after eight serious incidents in 13 months, our fellow New Yorkers do not accept the dangers that horse carriages pose in Central Park,” said Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “There is broad consensus that no tourist attraction is worth risking another preventable tragedy, and the era of horse carriages must come to an end. Cities from London to Paris to Salt Lake City have already made this transition, recognizing that horses do not belong in the middle of dense, modern urban traffic. New York should not be the last major city to reach the same conclusion—especially after the tragic loss of life we've witnessed this year.”
Seventy-four percent (74%) of New Yorkers can recall seeing or hearing about the death of Romanch Mahajan, the young man killed in a horse-drawn carriage incident in Central Park last month, a high level of awareness. When asked in their own words why they support the ban, respondents identified a few common themes, including:
- Public safety risks for riders, pedestrians, cyclists, and the horses themselves.
- Concerns about the welfare and treatment of carriage horses.
- The belief that horse-drawn carriages no longer belong in a modern urban environment.
- Support for job transition assistance for affected workers, and for retired carriage horses to be placed in appropriate homes.
More than 70% of respondents who approve of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Council Speaker Julie Menin, and Governor Kathy Hochul’s job performances all want the practice of horse-drawn carriages to end, as do:
- 77% of those who voted for Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 general election.
- 76% of Asian New Yorkers, 73% of Latino New Yorkers, 72% of White New Yorkers, and 57% of Black New Yorkers.
- 69% of Native New Yorkers and 65% of those who have moved to the city.
The legislation, Romanch’s Law (Intro. 0943), will be heard by the New York City Council Health Committee on July 15, 2026. The bill was initially named Ryder’s Law when introduced in 2022, and renamed on June 10 of this year in honor of Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India who died after falling from a runaway horse carriage near Cherry Hill in Central Park.
Methodology
This survey was commissioned by the Central Park Conservancy and conducted by Zenith Research from June 30 through the morning of July 4, 2026, among 834 adults residing in New York City. Interviews were completed using a mixed-mode methodology combining text-to-web interviewing from an L2 consumer file (n=385) and an online opt-in panel (n=449).
Results were weighted by borough, gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, age, and household income to match the demographic composition of New York City's adult population using 2024 American Community Survey (1-Year and 5-Year) estimates. The survey has a margin of sampling error of ±3.4 percentage points.
Quality control procedures were used to ensure data quality, including removing speeders, straightliners, respondents who failed attention checks, and respondents who provided nonsensical open-ended responses.
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Appendix: New Yorkers in Their Own Words on a Proposed Ban
Voluntary open-ended responses, lightly edited for spelling. “Banning them is good for the horses, safer for people. Phase it thoughtfully with support for workers/horses. NYC has evolved.” – Staten Island Man, White, Age 36, Union Household
“It would end a situation that is dangerous for both horses and people using the park, but at the same time address the issues of what will happen to the horses and their drivers.”– Manhattan Man, White, Age 71
“Because anything that can kill a human being instantaneously & unexpectedly needs to be investigated...Especially when it can be prevented…I could not imagine my life ending because I chose to go on a horse carriage ride.”– Queens Man, Black, Age 37
“I support banning horse-drawn carriages because I am concerned about the horses' safety and well-being. Busy city traffic, extreme weather, and recent horse deaths show that the risks can outweigh the benefits, and there are more humane alternatives for tourism.”– Manhattan Woman, Asian, Age 23, Union Household
“The horse drawn carriage is an outdated NYC attraction. There have been rumors of mistreatment of the horses for years. The death of an innocent passenger should be the end.”– Bronx Man, Latino, Age 50
“Cruel to animals. Bad for other Central Park users. Tourists have plenty of other iconic NYC activities.”– Brooklyn Man, White, Age 41, Union Household
“Since the horses will still remain alive and the carriage riders will get a new job, seems like a win-win. Plus, the horse carriage rides are for tourists mostly and an unnecessary activity in NYC, in my opinion.”– Brooklyn Woman, Black, Age 48
“It is 2026. Horses should no longer be forced to endure busy city streets for tourist photos. The heat, noise, traffic and stressful conditions are not good for the welfare of these animals.”– Queens Woman, White, Age 42, Union Household
“Safety is the first objective, if the horse drawn carriage cannot be safe for its riders and for the pedestrians, it should be banned.”– Manhattan Man, Latino, Age 62
“I like the horses it's a throwback to old New York but its time has come and it's time to move on.”– Bronx Man, Latino, Age 41
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About Zenith Research
Zenith Research is a New York City-based polling and market research firm specializing in methodologically rigorous quantitative and qualitative research for political campaigns, political action committees, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and think tanks across the country.
In partnership with Public Progress Solutions, the firm conducted one of the most comprehensive public polls of the 2025 New York City mayoral election. Zenith also conducted polling on the 2025 New York City housing ballot initiatives.
Founding Partner Adam Carlson has more than 13 years of experience in political polling and market research. He has designed and conducted research for presidential, statewide, and local campaigns, Fortune 50 companies, and leading nonprofit organizations. He has been cited as a polling and election expert in the New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, The Economist, and many more.
About the Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park's annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of 400 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. Additionally, the Conservancy operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.
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