It’s time to move from tragedy to solutions - by Joseph Aquino

A young man lost his life. His family lost a son. Nothing should minimize that tragedy.

But before New York rushes to eliminate an industry that has been part of the fabric of Central Park for more than a century, we should ask a simple question: What actually failed?

The horse did not decide to break a rule. The failure was operational. Reports indicate the driver stepped away from the carriage, the horse became startled, and events unfolded in seconds.

The lesson is not that horses have no place in Central Park. The lesson is that safety standards must be strengthened.

Central Park encompasses approximately 843 acres. Instead of forcing horses to travel through congested streets and compete with bicycles, scooters, delivery vehicles, and other traffic, New York should create dedicated stables and operating areas within the park itself.  Central Park has 843 acres, there is a place we can keep them safetly and off the streets like 7^th Ave.  Carriages could pick up visitors at designated locations and conduct the majority of their operations on protected routes inside the park.

Ironically, this debate comes at the same moment America is embracing autonomous vehicles. Yet even driverless technology is not foolproof. This week Waymo recalled thousands of autonomous vehicles after software problems led cars into active construction zones.

Whether the vehicle is pulled by a horse or controlled by a computer, transportation systems require oversight, training, and common sense.

The goal should not be choosing between horses and technology. The goal should be public safety.

The death of a young tourist deserves thoughtful reform, not simply a political slogan.

I think that approach is much stronger because it begins with compassion for the victim and then pivots to your proposal: keep the horses, move the stables and operations inside Central Park, and improve safety standards.

Joseph Aquino is president of JAACRES, Manhattan, N.Y.