Cincinnati Horse-Drawn Carriages

[goyguy]

Post what you will about "rickshas." Elsewhere in the US - at least in Boston, Washington DC, and NYC - so-called pedicabs have appeared. And they're exactly what you think they are, wide seats on two wheels that move forward under human power. The person operating the contraption (yes, women do too) grasps the bars extending from the passenger seat on both sides and is literally off and running when a customer climbs aboard. Somehow I don't think pedicabs will catch on quite so quickly in "cities with topography" like Cincinnati. Because there's no fare structure (riders pay what they choose) I suspect even the fittest of operators has to occasionally find a way to take someone to their destination without having to face a steep hill.

Although I stop short of PETA-level fanaticism I'm one of those who believes horse-drawn carriages should only be allowed away from city streets. Exceptions could be made if, for instance, somebody wanted to start offering tours of Eden Park. But no human in their right mind is going to stand still or walk slowly behind fume-belching vehicles. So who are we to put an animal through it? Carriages are also regularly in accidents (with injury or death to the horse sometimes resulting) because they don't belong in traffic. It's the 21st century, not the 19th. Williamsburg and Sturbridge are there for people who want the "full experience" of days gone by. And those who feel that strongly about it could always join the Amish.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Post what you will about "rickshas." Elsewhere in the US - at least in Boston, Washington DC, and NYC - so-called pedicabs have appeared. And they're exactly what you think they are, wide seats on two wheels that move forward under human power. The person operating the contraption (yes, women do too) grasps the bars extending from the passenger seat on both sides and is literally off and running when a customer climbs aboard. Somehow I don't think pedicabs will catch on quite so quickly in "cities with topography" like Cincinnati. Because there's no fare structure (riders pay what they choose) I suspect even the fittest of operators has to occasionally find a way to take someone to their destination without having to face a steep hill.

Although I stop short of PETA-level fanaticism I'm one of those who believes horse-drawn carriages should only be allowed away from city streets. Exceptions could be made if, for instance, somebody wanted to start offering tours of Eden Park. But no human in their right mind is going to stand still or walk slowly behind fume-belching vehicles. So who are we to put an animal through it? Carriages are also regularly in accidents (with injury or death to the horse sometimes resulting) because they don't belong in traffic. It's the 21st century, not the 19th. Williamsburg and Sturbridge are there for people who want the "full experience" of days gone by. And those who feel that strongly about it could always join the Amish.

Yup. And horses leave a real mess which in turn can lead to health issues.

[goyguy]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Yup. And horses leave a real mess which in turn can lead to health issues.

One of my numerous favorite expressions is, "I get around like horse (manure)!"

[WILWRadio]

Another thing to consider. Horses really should be walking on unpaved trails i.e. grassy lands. Their hooves, even with shoes, are not meant to walk on pavement. Not easy on their legs either. I grew up around several horse farms in my Connecticut hometown and people did not ride their horses on the road very often. Most of the time it was on the dirt trails in the nearby forests.

[ohioaninsc]

Yeah I think horse drawn carriages need to be banned in cities...the treatment of these horses is really harsh, and they are certainly not meant to be walking or trotting on cement/brick/asphalt roads.

[CarryOn]

^^^ Agreed. We don't patronize them, here or elsewhere.