New York, NY - Since the 1950’s, horse drawn carriages have been lined up ready to take tourists on a tour through one of the most magnificent places on earth, Central Park. What in theory looks like a wonderfully romantic experience, is in fact one of the largest instances of animal cruelty and is an old antiquated form of tourism.
New York, NY - Since the 1950’s, horse drawn carriages have been lined up ready to take tourists on a tour through one of the most magnificent places on earth, Central Park. What in theory looks like a wonderfully romantic experience, is in fact one of the largest instances of animal cruelty and is an old antiquated form of tourism.
New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), is a 501(c)4 non-profit animal welfare and advocacy organization committed to improving the quality of life for residents and animals in the City of New York, has been worked to implement a safer, 21st century alternative, a pilot program introducing an electric vintage-replica car that would increase revenue to the city and help modernize our tourism landscape. NYCLASS is working with legislation to pass bill Intro 86A, which currently has 15 co-sponsors and is being led by Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, to phase out the carriage horse industry.
“Carriage horses suffer cruel treatment on a daily basis. They are exposed to climate conditions that can place their health in severe jeopardy, and are forced to maneuver through dense city traffic while inhaling automobile fumes,” explains Allie Feldman, NYCLASS spokeswoman. “Carriage horses do not receive adequate medical care even though they are often injured in the line of duty. In fact, there have been at least eight incidents since 2011. Horse carriages also create significant public safety issues. Forcing the animals to maneuver through dangerous urban environments on a daily basis has resulted in accidents that have critically injured passengers and the horses,” she added.
At no cost to the city, the 21st century “horseless carriage” pilot program would test out one or two “green” electric vintage-replica cars, giving members of the Council, city residents and drivers the opportunity to witness firsthand just how viable these cars can be. With the help of over 99,000 supporters, NYCLASS has offered to provide 100 percent of the financing for the pilot program.
These “horseless carriages” would be a profitable eco-tourism opportunity that would provide an enjoyable and safe experience for riders, in addition to generating additional revenue for the city. According to a study by Sam Schwartz Engineering, projected annual revenue to the city once a full fleet of cars is up and running would be $33 million. By comparison, the horse-drawn carriage industry generates $19 million annually.
The vintage-replica car would also protect an important segment of jobs within the city. After the complete fleet of electric cars is introduced, the number of jobs will be equal to or greater than the number of current jobs provided through the horse-drawn carriage industry.
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About NYCLASS
NYCLASS is an animal advocacy organization committed to ending the inhumane practices of the NYC carriage horse industry. NYCLASS advocates for retiring the carriage horses to sanctuary, while modernizing the current industry with a clean and safe alternative to this outdated tradition - the 21st Century Horseless Carriage. Founded in 2008 by a coalition of prominent animal lovers and business leaders, NYCLASS has grown to over 97,000 supporters with activist chapters in all five boroughs. For more information, please visit www.nyclass.org