A Model "T" Idea To Replace Horse Carriages In New York

The debate over whether to allow horse-drawn carriages to operate in New York City has shown both sides of the issue to be quite passionate for their cause. Those feelings have been simmering and certainly boiled over at the Council hearing on the issue at the end of January. Now it comes time to decide what to do about the situation. There is without a doubt strenuous circumstances that these horses are put into, no matter what the carriage drivers try to say. Something must be done and one Councilman must just have an idea ready to be passed as legislation.

From The NY Post:

After 82 years, the Model T is set to replace the horse - again.

A city lawmaker wants to phase out controversial buggy-pulling horses and replace them with eco-friendly electric replicas of vintage Model T Fords.

The proposal - which has been pitched by animal-rights activists for months - has been taken up by Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who is hoping to put it before the City Council this spring.

Whether Garodnick gets Quinn's approval to present the bill is still up for debate, though it is better that he is presenting it rather than CM Avella. Of course carriage drivers are still upset over this, apparently for the love of their horses. If they love their horses, they'll send them away from the fumes of NYC and to, clichés aside, greener pastures.

Battle To Ban Carriage Horses In NYC Heats Up

Activists and horse carriage drivers have been at it for a while now, but today they are facing off at City Hall with legislation to ban the industry at stake. Quite a few cities have done away with horses pulling carriages already and in my opinion, it would be great if we'd follow their lead. Passions are high on both sides and it can clearly be seen by the amount of people at City Hall today.

From PolitickerNY:

At the start of a Council hearing on a proposed bill to ban the carriage horse industry, a collection of about 20 people stood outside the gates in consternation. They had been told that the hearing room was full.

"We're all in this together," said a distraught Pamela Seri, owner of a vegan restaurant on the Upper West Side. "This has to stop. They can't go on like this anymore." The hearing room inside was indeed packed, with PETA-sticker-sporting horse lovers and carriage horse drivers themselves.

At issue are two bills: one, spearheaded by Councilman Tony Avella, to ban horse carriages outright, which has been in the works for several years as the anti-carriage movement has bubbled up around the legislative fringes. The other, proposed by Councilman David Weprin, would raise the price of a carriage ride from $34 per half hour to $54 and impose other regulations for the health of the horses.

Of course, the newly minted teamsters are backing Weprin's bill. Perhaps that is because even with new regulations, they'll probably be left unenforced, just as the current ones are. Studies have shown that the agencies meant to police the horse carriage industry have failed again and again. The truth of the matter is, that despite the half-truths and lies spread by the people who work with these horses, it is cruel and inhumane for these creatures to ferry people around Midtown Manhattan. There are much better ideas that we can all get behind, such as utilizing classic cars to take people around the park that would provide just as many jobs as the horse industry does.

On Liam Neeson And NYC Carriage Horses

Like many animal lovers that watched the Daily Show on Thursday night, I was appalled at what Liam Neeson had to say about the horse carriage industry. For someone that owns horses, he is clearly not a friend of the four-legged creatures, especially for the poor souls that parade tourists around Midtown and Central Park. One comment in particular, about him moving into the Central Park Stables, had PETA thinking that Neeson was kicked in the head by one of his own horses. Especially when you look at where Liam lives, and the conditions of the stables he's talking about.

From PETA:

Horses who are forced to pull carriages endure terrible living conditions like these. Sounds like home sweet home to Neeson, though!

Liam's posh 6,000 square foot estate that he would apparently prefer to give up to live in the stables

When Jon Stewart questioned whether the horses would prefer to be free, Liam said, "Everyone thinks cows in the fields would rather be running wild … that's bullsh** … horses don't either."

Oh, Liam, maybe you're right, let me ponder this for a moment … It does seem like horses would prefer to endure the freezing cold and the panicky booms, noisy traffic, and exhaust fumes of the city over living in a lush pasture. And you're right, they probably much prefer the whips, shouting, heavy gear, traces, and lack of water in the troughs as well as the long shifts trudging for hours and pulling strangers in a half-mile circle all day without rest over living a natural life. Makes sense, right?

Jon stood firm, though, and came to the support of horses, adding, "I don't think living on 52nd and 11th is a holiday for a horse."

Why Liam is such an avid supporter of the cruel horse carriage industry in NYC, I can't imagine. If he's really seen the conditions the horses endure, and still carries on like this, well, Liam must be one sick individual.

Now I know that this is from PETA and they can be a bit over-reactive from time to time. Yet the conditions of what horses in NYC endure does not rest on PETA alone. These horses have been killed in traffic, are put to work in nasty, cold snowy weather and made to work incessantly throughout the day. There is a better approach to getting a tour of the park, such as riding a bike, or a pedicab if don't want to peddle. I understand back in the 19th century and before the use of horses in cities, but nowadays with cars and mass transit available, there is no need for them to be in such a chaotic environment. Don't believe me though, there are plenty of sources to check out just on YouTube.

NYC Carriage Horses Forced To Work In The Sleet And Snow

If you need another reason to convince you that the horse carriage industry in New York must be banned, this is a prime example. The owners of the carriages have no regard or sympathy for their horses, as they let them out into the wintry weather and the dangerous streets created from it. And as you'll see, at least one of the drivers despises the cameraman enough to hit him with his whip.

Tony Avella Continues His Quest To Rid NYC Of Horse Carriages

Tony Avella showed up at an Eastside event last night to protest the use of horse-driven carriages in New York City. The idea to ban them for the inhumanity of the practice has been around for a while, but progress has been slow. Organizers put together a video to make dual use of the word "blinders" to inform tourists and locals alike and shocked the most friendly crowd. Though no one is really sure if anything got done.

From The NY Observer:

In a small theater on East Third St. at around 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 26, you wouldn’t have wanted to be a carriage-horse driver.

It was a benefit screening of Blinders: The Truth Behind the Tradition, which documents the alleged abuses of the horses that ferry tourists around Central Park in hansom cabs. Before the film had even started, organizers ejected a driver for threatening to disrupt the event, and a sympathizer was thrown out when he showed his pro-carriage colors during the question-and-answer session afterward.

But you wouldn’t have minded being city councilman and long-shot mayoral candidate Tony Avella, who has been making political hay out of the issue ever since the untimely death of Spotty the horse in 2006.

Playing to a crowd of several hundred adoring Eastsiders after the screening, the white-haired Councilman said, “Speaker Christine Quinn just goes along with what the mayor wants.”

For those that followed the issue, Quinn and 45 others on the Council have remained mum, most likely out of deference to the Mayor, who promotes NYC for everything and anything. Our city has so many great attractions for the tens of millions that pass through here every year, but the carriages do not have to be a part of it. One thing is for sure that as long as Bloomberg is Mayor, nothing will change.

Of course there are on-going talks about alternatives, but so far I haven't seen any proof that there is any hope of movement in the near future. However, with enough pressure we'll be able to join other forward-thinking cities across the world...probably even before the MTA can build the 2nd Ave. subway.

A Solution For The Horses Of Central Park

Many tourists who come to New York love to see the horses that pull antique carriages around the Central Park area. It's romantic and charming sure, but when you are in town for a short time, people don't see the abusive nature of this trade. Horses have been killed because of the hectic atmosphere on the border of the park and Midtown. Horses are also mistreated not only by certain individual owners but by the very nature of what they are being made to do. Thankfully though, City Councilman Tony Avella has something to offer in its place.

From The Gothamist:

A plan is afoot to have horse drawn carriages around Central Park replaced by environmentally friendly classic cars, like the Ford Model T. The carriage horse business has come under increasing scrutiny recently as an outdated and cruel practice. Several incidents where horses were killed or injured after bolting in city traffic have galvanized opponents and some politicians to ban the use of horses in New York City. Technology remains a barrier, according to the Post.

One option would be the classic replicas that run on propane and hydrogen currently shuttling tourists around San Francisco. But Nislick said the coalition would prefer electric cars with zero emissions - technology that may not be available until 2010.

Councilman Tony Avella is interested in the possible substitution of cars for horses. He's already proposed a bill to ban horse drawn carriages in the city. Carriage owners insist that their animals are well cared for and think that a car ride won't have the same appeal as a carriage ride. Spokeswoman for the Horse and Carriage Association, Carolyn Daly, told the Post "No one wants to replace clip-clop, clip-clop with chitty chitty bang bang."

The Horse and Carriage Association can make all the noises they want, but the truth remains that their profession is inherently cruel to the animals who are forced to pull people around the park. These people need to stop whining and let the horses be cared for in a way that is actually caring. Despite their claims, anyone that passes by them around Central Park South can see the truth of what they are trying to pull. Putting classic cars into practice is a novel and refreshing idea that is good for both man and horse.

Central Park Carriage Rides No More?

When it comes to romance and New York City, some locals and many visitors think of a carriage ride in the park before anything else. Who knows how many marriage proposals have been made on those horse-drawn wooden carriages? Though many people see it as a vehicle for romance, animal rights supporters see it as something much different. If you have ever walked down Central Park South, or around the entrance for Tavern on the Green and looked closely at the horses, they seem to be the saddest souls in the city. Now Councilman Avella is trying to do something about it.

From The Daily News:

Horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park will become a thing of the past if a Queens lawmaker has his way.

Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens) is introducing a bill next month that seeks to ban the carriage rides, arguing they promote animal cruelty and aren't safe.

"It is time to put this industry out to pasture," said Avella, explaining that attempts to regulate the industry have been fruitless.

Patrick Byrne, who operates out of Central Park Carriages, said, "Let the market decide if we should be in business, not a publicity-seeking councilman."

Damn, that a nasty (but expected) response from one member in the industry. Besides seeing sad eyes and hearing from Avella, is there anything written or reported about the carriage industry and how they treat their horses?

You bet there is.

If this bill does not pass, take the words Patrick Byrne to heart, stop thinking of those carriages as romantic and realize what those horses go through...then vote with your wallet and walk away. There are dozens, if not hundreds of other things in New York that you can do to be romantic.