New Yorkers urge City Council members to fight Bill de Blasio’s ban on horse carriages

 Angered by Mayor de Blasio’s drive to ban horse-drawn carriages, New Yorkers fought back Tuesday with their fingertips — swamping City Council members with phone calls urging them to oppose the mayor’s plan.

Thousands of people dialed up their outrage after the Daily News published the numbers of all 51 Council members and urged readers to let the lawmakers know where they stand.

“We are fielding calls all day today,” said a harried Jeremy House, an aide to Councilman James Vacca (D-Bronx), one of the 25 Council members who said they are undecided about the mayor’s proposal. “The people who live in our district overwhelmingly are against the ban.”

A staff member for Councilman Alan Maisel (D-Brooklyn) staff said she received 25 calls alone from late morning to midafternoon.

And the office of another undecided councilman, Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Queens), received so many calls, its answering machine could not take any more messages.

“The mayor’s got better things to do than pick on something that’s been an institution in the city,” said News reader Joseph Saberito, 62, of Gravesend, Brooklyn, who called his councilman, too.

De Blasio vowed Tuesday he, too, would call Council members — to lobby them on behalf of his proposal, which will be formally introduced in the Council next week.

“Anytime we put forward a policy proposal, I get involved. And I certainly intend to talk to Council members about it,” he said. He also dismissed suggestions city tourism would take a hit without the popular rides.

“It’s a matter of common sense that people do not travel from all over the country, all over the world to come to New York City just to take a horse-carriage ride," he said.

Animal-rights activists rallied outside City Hall, praising de Blasio. “He shows that he has concerns for all residents — two-legged and four-legged,” said Allie Feldman of NYCLASS.