THE MYSTERIES OF THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE HACK LINE IN NYC

HACK LINE MYSTERIES ....

On Thursday night at the hack line -- November 12, 2015 -  horse after horse was left unattended near Seventh Avenue, standing around waiting for fares that never came.  This is not unusual. 

It is both dangerous and illegal to leave carriage horses unattended and untethered in New York City.  It is written into the NYC Administrative Code - §17–330  Regulations. 
But no one in authority is paying attention.

It also raises the questions: where is all the business? And why is the carriage trade digging in their heels to keep this questionable business.? 

We have observed this many times.  No business.  So we continue to ask the question:  WHY!

Why does this cash only business still exist?   What/who is behind it?   Fewer than 250  licenses have been issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs to drive a horse-drawn carriages.  Some of those licensees are not actively involved and live in other cities and countries, holding onto the license because it is inexpensive.  There are only 68 medallions / owners.   The other drivers are independent contractors who have to take care of their own taxes and get a percentage of their fares.  Only 120 drivers belong to the union.  Because it is not 100%, it is not a union shop and this means that there are no  benefits.  No health care, no vacation days, no 401 K/s.  Nothing.  It is name only.  This obviously means that they are not "good union jobs" as many think.  

So why are they still hanging on?

Why is the Mayor and City Council allowing this inhumane and unsafe business to continue?  Why are they afraid of this tiny group of people? 

These are the $64,000 questions.  

Unattended and untethered -- no driver in sight  © Mary Culpepper

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Unattended and untethered -- no driver in sight  - © Mary Culpepper

Unattended and untethered -- no driver in sight - © Mary Culpepper

Carriage drivers standing around by the wall, as their horses are unattended: illegal, dangerous, and curious -  where is all the business that has made them dig their heels in?   © Mary Culpepper

Unattended and untethered -- no driver in sight - © Mary Culpepper

Carriage driver is so bored that he's relaxing in the back of the carriage, leaving his horse unattended illegally and endangering the public safety as well as the horse.  © Mary Culpepper

NYC Carriage Drivers Behaving Badly

They whitewash their license plates; do not pay attention to the road, make illegal U-turns; leave their horses unattended and pull them by the bit - and still this tiny (but protected) industry manages to survive. WHY do these violations matter? Because failure to adhere to these basic laws—and basic rules of horsemanship—endangers the public safety.

this is a post on Buzzfeed.  Please click here to see it.   

Here are a few examples from the post:

White washed license plate

Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Why make it easy to report a violation?

Parked over a steaming manhole cover

no concern for the possibility that it could EXPLODE! as many have done in Manhattan. Not to mention that it must be uncomfortable for the horse.

Mickey Z

Wrong way on a one-way street

Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Seems that the driver forgot his street map, because he is traveling north-east—illegally—on a street that goes south-west. Cops? nowhere to be found.

“Unattended and Untethered”

Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

perfect recipe for a “spook and bolt.” If something happened and this horse spooked and bolted into traffic, his driver would not be able to stop him. This is very unprofessional and irresponsible behavior.

This can happen when horses spook!

Smoothie’s driver left her unattended and untethered at the hack line and was not paying attention. A loud noise spooked Smoothie and her driver was not close enough to calm her. She bolted and ran into a tree where she hit her head and died. She was only 12 years old.