Central Park carriage tumble reins in calls to ban horse-drawn rides in NYC

"Officers from the Central Park Precinct responded to a 911 call of a person in need of help. When they arrived, officers were informed that a carriage horse became startled due to an abrupt movement, authorities said, causing the carriage to overturn. The 44-year-old coachman fell to the ground as a result of the topple; EMS brought him to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition. The horse sustained no injuries; there were no passengers in the carriage at the time of the incident."

"Following the jaw-dropping incident, the Central Park Conservancy immediately called for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in the iconic park and around the city. This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that horse-drawn carriages pose in an increasingly crowded Central Park, not only to the park's millions of visitors, but very often to the drivers themselves, a spokesperson for the organization said."

"In a historic move last year, the conservancy called for the city to end the horse-drawn carriage industry in the park, marking the first time it took a side in the ongoing controversy. The Central Park Conservancy renews its call to ban carriages in Central Park as a matter of public safety and public health, the spokesperson added. New York should join the growing number of major cities around the world that have already banned horse-drawn carriages before yet another accident is allowed to happen."

Two horse-drawn carriages were parked in Central Park near W. 59th and West Drive on May 18 before 4 p.m. A 911 call prompted NYPD officers to respond after a person needed help. Officers were told a horse became startled due to an abrupt movement, which caused the carriage to overturn. The 44-year-old coachman fell and was taken by EMS to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition. The horse was not injured and there were no passengers. The Central Park Conservancy renewed its call to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park and across the city, citing public safety and public health concerns and warning that crowded conditions increase risk to visitors and drivers.

Read at www.amny.com