De Blasio To Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages- Page 4

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 11:03am

"I wish the new mayor had announced new living and working conditions for the horses and confined their routes to Central Park."

I would be more confident in de Blasio if he had done this. I think it's the proper response to this situation.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 11:05am

Maybe he will...

[Kad]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 12:20pm

This thread makes my hair hurt.

[dreaming]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 1:54pm

I think getting rid of the practice completely is not the right answer. Like it or not, the horses were actually bred to do what they are doing.

Also, you're putting the drivers and the companies out of work. Nice, Mr. Mayor.

I think implementing stricter codes for the treatment of the animals to ensure their welfare, including the confinement of the carriages to Central Park, is the correct response here. (When I came as a kid, the carriages never left the park-don't know when that changed.)

Oh, and Goth-I own a dog. A 13 lb. rescue dog-who I am certain LOVES being in our nice cozy (not too small for him) apartment. He is properly fed, walked and tended to lovingly. I think his life and mine have been enhanced by each other. Updated On: 12/31/13 at 01:54 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:11pm

"Like it or not, the horses were actually bred to do what they are doing."

Did you find that on google? please post a link to info that they are bred for that.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:13pm

Ugh. After this thread it's clear Namo has the right idea when it comes to Goth.

[dreaming]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:14pm

Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_horse

That would appear to be the makeup of the horses in the park.

And the electric car idea is HORRIBLE. As someone who lives near the park and walks my dog there I would detest having noisy, pollution inducing cars. Another problem with that is there are bicyclists (who get away with running red lights, riding on the wrong side of the road and the sidewalks among other offenses), and I can see this turning into a problem.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:19pm

I think electric antique cars are a swell idea.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:20pm

I don't know, dreaming. Those draught horses are walking on soft soil, not paved roads, which is what they walk on in the park. I don't think horses are bred for pulling weights on hilly paved roads.

I can't forget that horse who dropped dead in the middle of the city street a while ago.

[dreaming]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:22pm

My dog would be petrified of the electric cars-and as I noted above, adding more vehicular traffic to the park would not sit well with the runner/biking/walking crowd. I feel that they are noisy, annoying and don't want my tax dollars going towards them. I would never want to walk my dog there (plus, I enjoy taking in the Shakespeare in the Park offerings as well as outdoor concerts and such-the noise would be terrible).

If De Blasio can distract us long enough with really mundane issues like this, (as I see it, there are much more pressing matters than this!) then just get rid of the stupid carriages and don't replace them with ANYTHING. Maybe then the tourists will WALK. (Lord knows many could use the exercise!)

Updated On: 12/31/13 at 02:22 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:25pm

Your dog would be terrified by electric cars in particular?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:25pm

LOL

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:27pm

I'm surprised a dog owner doesn't care as much about horses as their pet. Your dog would get used to the little carts. As it is, you have to move out of the way for every horse drawn carriage.

I think it's less important for your dog to be frightened of a little car than it is to save horses.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:27pm

It's a real question. It seems to me like an eco- and tourist-friendly solution. But I'd love to know what the objections are. I haven't given it a lot of thought.

[dreaming]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:27pm

He would. And I think that they are incompatible with the runners/bikers and walkers who enjoy the park as a source of tranquility. (It's a reason I've renewed my lease-its proximity to the park.) I think adding vehicular traffic like that would diminish the quality of the park as a natural, quiet place of rest.

Now, if they want to run the cars from Times Square to Columbus Circle, I can get behind that. However, I don't want them in the park-ever.


I am willing to bet that a lot of people who have animals and kids don't want the noisy electric cars around (have you HEARD them? They are noisy.)

Frankly, I think De Blasio is ignoring the larger, more important issues. You want to get rid of the freaking carriages-go ahead. But please leave the park free of stupid, unnecessary vehicles.



Updated On: 12/31/13 at 02:27 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:29pm

I guess I don't see how a relatively silent antique vehicle following the paths normally taken by the carriages--presumably at a similar pace--would be disruptive. Or at any rate, any more disruptive than the carriages.

But I could certainly be wrong.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:31pm

Horse drawn carriages in the park are just as disruptive as electric antique cars. Your argument fails to compute.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:34pm

You keep saying "adding vehicular traffic to the park," when what we're talking about is substituting one vehicle for another, aren't we? Just minus a horse.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:36pm

Also, I have no idea what kind of antique cars are being proposed. I guess I have in mind something like the silent electric ones you seen in the Disney parks.

[dreaming]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:38pm

Vehicular in this sense is like adding cars-which I frankly don't think the park needs at all. If they leave the stupid electric cars out of Central Park I'll support it.

De Blasio is more worried about these utterly meaningless, petty issues instead of the big picture. I hope he just makes a decision and moves on to the more important things.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:43pm

How can you be an animal lover to the extent of having a pet that you supposedly care for, yet believe that it's ok for horses to be abused?

I think dreaming's argument is completely self driven. HER dog, HER lease, HER dislike for DeBlasio and HER imagining things that won't happen.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 2:48pm

De Blasio is more worried about these utterly meaningless, petty issues instead of the big picture. I hope he just makes a decision and moves on to the more important things.

And this is the absurdity of it all. He made ONE comment at a press conference that was a direct reply to questions about horses in central park. ONE statement. No follow up, no long-winded plan of action, nothing. I don't think there's any evidence that De Blasio is obsessing over this, just that people on here are. Besides, if you actually think the mayor personally crafts every plan and then signs off on them without the help of advisors, you're sadly mistaken. I'm sure someone would propose a solution and De Blasio would look it over for a few minutes and sign off on it - that's probably the extent of it.

I'm a huge fan of the electric car idea. I'm not sure what you're referencing Dreaming but I too was thinking of the ones at Disney which are virtually silent (actually quieter than the clacking of the horse hooves.) I would also think they would travel at 5 MPH or a similar speed down the paved paths, I don't think anyone was talking about high speed cars revving through the park.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 3:02pm

Dreaming is thinking of the electric cars that sound exactly like chainsaws. You know those ones? And apparently they are going to be allowed to drive right across the Great Lawn as well as the stage at the Delacorte, even during performances!! Luckily the joggers and walkers are so ambulatory because they won't have to take this sitting down.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 3:29pm

Yes, but leaving out the stupid electric cars throws away the tourist dollars that could be (largely, presumably) kept.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/31/13 at 3:33pm

Why is this being treated like it's on the front page of every newspaper?

Because it's not.

Because it's not the central issue De Blasio is thinking about.

Just don't tell that to Goth or Dreaming's jittery dog.