City Council voted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia
City Council passed an amended bill on Thursday that bans both noncommercial and commercial horse-drawn carriages.
In the middle of mundane City Council procedures on Thursday, cheers erupted inside Council chambers.
Supporters were celebrating the passage of a bill that will outlaw horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia. The ban would take effect after Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signs it into law.
The city’s last operating horse-carriage business, 76 Carriage Co., ceased operations in 2023, but people have taken noncommercial horse carriages to South Street in recent weeks.
Councilmember Mark Squilla, who introduced the bill, and animal-welfare advocates have been working to ban the practice for several years. The advocates have argued that horse-drawn carriages are cruel and onerous to the animals, and dangerous for surrounding traffic and pedestrians.
A horse in New York City died earlier this week while pulling a carriage, and lawmakers have planned to reintroduce legislation that would ban the practice in that city.
Philadelphia City Council was slated to vote on the bill last week, but that version would have only banned commercial horse-carriage use. Advocates like Janet White, executive director and founder of Carriage Horse Freedom, successfully pushed for the bill to be amended to include a ban for both commercial and noncommercial uses.
The new proposal allows for some exceptions, which would be regulated and monitored by animal control and the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Violations of the ban could result in fines of $1,000 per day for someone operating a horse carriage.
Council voted nearly unanimously for the amended bill’s passage in its last session before summer recess, with Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke giving the lone vote in opposition.
O’Rourke said his nay vote was “benign,” because he has deep respect and connection with horses since his mother taught him how to ride and care for them. His objection came from concern about how the language of the legislation potentially could make it difficult for movies filming in the city to use horse carriages, he said, and he would like to continue talking about the issue over the summer.
White said the bill’s passage made her hopeful, and she believes it will help Philadelphia move into a better future for animal welfare.
“It is a moral and civic milestone — one that reflects who we are today and the humane, forward-looking city we aspire to be,” she said in a statement.
Inquirer intern Andrea Padilla contributed to this article.
