Rail line jaywalking
By John Horgan
Monday, August 13th, 2007 at 11:51 am in Uncategorized.
For roughly 150 years or so, a busy railroad route has existed between San Jose and San Francisco. The current Caltrain setup is nothing new. Far from it. Yet, to hear the complaints about safety leveled at the commuter rail line throughout this decade, you might be tempted to deduce that something radical has changed. Not so. In the past, fast freight trains and express passenger trains like the Lark and Daylight were routine along the Peninsula at all hours of the day and night. So the recent proliferation of Caltrain’s express options is really nothing new. Yes, trains are dangerous. That’s why all of us have been taught from an early age to stay off the tracks, to pay attention to warning bells, horns and even whistles during the age of steam and to give any train a wide berth. Some people, for whatever reason, tempt fate or, sadly, choose to have an onrushing train kill them. No one is happy about either eventuality. But the fact of the matter is that those who are focused and avoid trouble don’t get run down by a locomotive. The idea that deaths along the Caltrain line are the fault of the railroad is faulty logic. The taxpayers can foot the bill for millions of dollars in new fencing, crossing gates, etc. But none of that will matter if a person wanders onto the tracks or does so purposely. It’s a lot like jaywalking and then getting hit by a car. Whose fault is that? You know the answer.
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August 15th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Though it may be dying here, the concept of personal responsibility for one’s actions is alive and well in other parts of the country. When I was in a water park in Iowa late last month, I mentioned the San Jose water park incident several times… everyone I talked to agreed that it was foolhardy for the mother to have taken a young child into a wave pool and that she, not the water park, was primarily responsible for his safety.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Regarding personal responsibility, it was extremely gratifying to see how, once again, ordinary folks responded with bravery and determination in the wake of the bridge collapse in Minnesota recently. People, when pressed to respond, perform nobly. As for individuals who fail to pay attention on railroad tracks, well, what more can we say?
August 16th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hey, my good friend, have you second thoughts on Bush’s war yet? best, and watch out for Merv Griffin’s ghost!
August 16th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Geoff: Good to hear from you again. Hope all is well in Canada. As for the war against Islamic fanatics, well, we shall see. No matter who is president down here in the Lower 48, the struggle will go on. Just ask Tony Blair and others who soberly assess the situation. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, London, Madrid, Indonesia, New York City. The list of bloody confrontations with radical Muslims will grow longer. Who knows, maybe Toronto or Montreal is next. Regarding Merv Griffin, he was a true local phenomenon. And to think he graduated from St. Matthew’s School and San Mateo High School with Cal Tjader. Next time you’re out this way, give us a holler. And how about those Ducks, by the way.