Horse-Drawn Carriages Will Be Banned From Melbourne's CBD

Horse-drawn carriages are set to be banned from Melbourne's CBD after a huge public campaign.

The tourist attractions have been a part of the capital city's streets for decades, however there has been a growing chorus of people who want it removed.

There were a few horrific instances of horses collapsing and carriage drivers seen allegedly abusing the animals to get back up and continue walking.

The ban will apply to any CBD roads that fall within the borders set by Flinders St, Spring St, La Trobe St and Spencer St, also known as Hoddle Grid.

Roads Minister Ben Carroll said the Department of Transport and City of Melbourne collaborated to see whether the carriages could still operate somewhere.

However, they realised those CBD streets were already heavily populated with cars, cyclists, trams and pedestrians.

The state government was concerned the carriages were posing a safety risk by operating at such a slow and wide pace.

They also concluded the growing campaign to get rid of them was enough to make them bring in the ban.

"We've heard the community's concerns about horse drawn carriages and this proposal will improve safety for everyone on some of our busiest streets," Mr Carroll said.

"We will continue to work with our road safety partners, RSPCA and the community to ensure animal welfare and safety across the industry."

Lord Mayor Sally Capp understands operators will be upset by the news as it will cripple their business, however the City of Melbourne is more concerned with safety.

"We know that road and footpath space in the Hoddle Grid is at a premium, which is why we need to keep people moving as best we can," she said.

"We look forward to ongoing consultation with operators and key stakeholders to ensure horse drawn carriages operate in lower risk areas."