Push for a ban on iconic rides through Central Park

The rights and wrongs of the horse-drawn carriages that carry tourists around New York's Central Park have been loudly debated for years, but the mayor has signalled they may be at the end of the track.

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Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to deadly collapses and dangerous escapes, while advocates point to the jobs they create and the heritage they uphold.

The rides, which cost $150 (about R2 600) for 45 minutes to several hundred dollars for a marriage proposal (no refunds), are popular with visitors to the Big Apple's most famous natural attraction, which draws 42 million people annually.