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Comment by Evan__ | Hacker News Reader

My understanding is that people have been hired to handle the horse shit. It’s not like the road in Central Park is 6 feet deep in manure. But there’s still horse shit on the ground and it’s still disgusting if you’re just out trying to get some exercise in one of the only car-free spaces in the city.

I agree with you that the animal rights angle is a weak justification. But as someone who uses the park, I’m glad the carriages are gone. Let’s get rid of the pedicabs next.

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I don't disagree that there could be some problems here but my point is that the problems (horse shit, potential for animal cruelty) are surmountable problems with known solutions, not a fundamental tradeoff.

I don't like these sorts of exclusionary type arguments. We should strive to include all users or as many types as possible, not kick some varieties out for others except where truly necessary (e.g. there is no vehicular through traffic).

Look at the arc of state forests, watershed districts and conservation lands over the past 20-50yr. A lot of them (especially in the northeast) follow the following pattern: First they kicked out the Jeeps and whatnot. Then they kicked out the ATVs and dirtbikes. Then they kicked out the hunters and fishermen. Then they kicked out the mountain bikes and kayakers. Then they kicked out the dog walkers. Then they closed it to the public and gave a megacorp permission to clearcut it and build a solar farm or something, i.e. it goes to shit and nobody can enjoy it.

I know central park isn't exactly the same but with these sorts of things that don't "actually" affect the detractors in a serious way (it's not like stepping around horse crap will ruin your finances for the month or cause you a risk of developing cancer later in life or something) there's a lot of potential for the same sort of purity spiral where once you start picking and choosing who and what's allowed you whittle down your potential user base and with it political support for keeping whatever your subject is from going to shit (IDK what "going to shit" looks like for central park). Like this is supposed to be a common good. I think some level of niche touristy commerce here is what you want.

It's not like the horses were thaaat detrimental. They surely weren't so numerous they were clogging it up to the exclusion of other users. Like at best they were a minor inconvenience, but one that brought a lot of paying customers entertainment and employed some people so I think it's worth having. If they're causing solvable problems solve those problems, don't just kick them out.

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