The End of Central Park Horse Carriages?

There's a currently a bill circulating in the City Council to ban horse carriages in Central Park. While they are a nostalgic and beautiful part of the history and identity of the park and city, they really are outdated and dangerous. People and horses have died and, even when they don't, these poor horses are scared of the noise and traffic of the city as well as being baked or frozen in the summer and winter months.

This editorial gives a good oversight of this bill, and how it would buy-out the  horse-carriage industry so that the people working in it aren't left destitute. 

But I agree, it needs to end. Heck, I can remember seeing groups organizing against horse-carriages back when I was a kid so this isn't a new issue. And yet, as nostalgic as I am for the old days of NYC, this is a lot like public smoking -- something that some people might enjoy but that really has no place in a decent society.