SAN ANTONIO — As city leaders continue the conversations about the future of horse-drawn carriages downtown, they are seeking input from the public with a new survey.
Back in the June, the issue came up in a public comment segment of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is a part of that committee and co-authored a Council Consideration Request (CCR) with Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran in 2022. The CCR asked for city staff to establish a plan to phase out horse-drawn carriages in San Antonio.
"My position has always been that we should have a total ban of horse-drawn carriages in San Antonio," McKee-Rodriguez said. "My hope is that a part of that is a just transition that we look at opportunities to phase out, to find other means to operate in the meantime."
There are five companies operating carriages in downtown San Antonio with an estimated 115 employees total. Currently, horse-drawn carriages suspend operations when the temperature is above 95 degrees. They also suspend operations from noon to 8:30 p.m. when there is an Air Quality Health Alert. Horses can't work more than 8 hours a day, and require a minimum of 16 hours of rest. The regulations are in line with other major cities in Texas.
The city wants residents, tourists and downtown business owners to fill out the survey on the future of horse-drawn carriages. The survey asks people whether they would like to see alternative options such as all-electric carriages.
The survey should take about two minutes to complete and will be open through August 13. Click here for the survey.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee planned to revisit the issue also in August.
