Istanbul islands may bid farewell to traditional horse carriages

ISTANBUL - Radikal

A new regulation offered by an administrative body demands the replacement of 86 out of 226 horse carriages on Princes’ Islands with electric-powered carriages.

Transportation Coordination Center’s report on the replacement of horse carriages on the Princes’ Islands raised eyebrows among locals, as some claim the change would negatively affect the tourist flow.

A new regulation offered by the administrative body demands the replacement of 86 out of 226 horse carriages with electric-powered carriages. The new regulation was based on high carriage fees, environmental contamination caused by the horses and mismanagement of animals in terms of hygienic conditions and proper sheltering.

Owners of horse carriages, backed by locals, reacted strongly against the proposal. They uniformly stated that problems cause by horse carriages could also be addressed by implementing more forceful regulations on the horse carriage owners, rather than replacing them with electric powered vehicles. They agree that the electric cars are a worse source of environmental contamination on the whole as opposed to animals. They also said the need and demand for the horse carriages already outnumber the supply and reduction of their numbers would paralyze transportation on the islands during high tourist season.
Some locals said that horse carriages are a trademark to the Princes’ Islands, serving as part of the island’s identity as an attraction for foreign tourist. Locals started a signature campaign against the new regulation proposal.