Operation of horse drawn carriages and to replace the horse drawn carriage industry with a horseless electric carriage program.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the operation of horse drawn carriages and to replace the horse drawn carriage industry with a horseless electric carriage program, and to repeal sections 17-334.1, 19-174, subdivision c of section 20-374, sections 20-377, 20-377.1, 20-380, 20-381, 20-381.1, 20-381.2, 20-382 and subdivisions b, c, and d of section 20-383 of the administrative code of the city of New York, relating to the regulation of horses used in the operation of a horse drawn cab and horse drawn cabs

This bill would wind down the horse drawn carriage industry by prohibiting the issuance of new licenses used in the operation of horse drawn cabs. The operation of such cabs would be prohibited beginning June 1, 2024. The industry would be replaced by horseless electric carriages that provide trips within Central Park and certain areas of Manhattan. The carriages would be electric low-speed vehicles that have a maximum speed performance of no more than 25 miles per hour. In Central Park, the carriages would be limited to speeds of 3 miles per hour. The City would be responsible for establishing a program to lease or sell the new carriages to prospective owners, with priority given to former horse drawn cab license holders. Under the new program, carriage owners would be required to pay carriage drivers a prevailing wage that would be set by the Comptroller. Former horse drawn carriage driver’s license holders would be given priority for the new driver’s licenses.