TICO BULL – I believe I have the solution to ending, or at least reducing, the number of accidents at train crossings. The solution came to me seeing a graphic on a Facebook post by Accidentes de CostaRica, reminding me of a personal story.
The solution is to place betting booths at all rail crossings. That is have people taking bets on whether this car or person will win against an oncoming train.
Sounds ridiculous? Let me share you my personal story.
It was ages ago in downtown San Jose, a time in my life that I was out a night and I foolishly would walk, many times alone, the streets of San Jose in the small hours of the night.
I would walk through the Morazan park at 2am. Or by the Mercado Borbon at 11 or 12 or 1. The people of the streets knew me then, having seem me in the company of my then friend, an immigration official who worked the street of downtown San Jose.
I never thought anything of anything. Never had a bad experience.
Was I lucky? Probably.
Was I a fool? Definitely, when I look back.
Was I stupid? No. I had street creds.
Until one night.
This one night, while exiting a well known night spot, I overheard the security guards bet on me, on my life, on “how far I would get before getting jumped”.
As I stepped onto the sidewalk a light flashed in my head, “uh? I’ve done this so many times, could they now be right?”
I walked back in, got into a cab.
So, you see, knowing that someone is betting on your fate – not if you will survive or not, rather how long before you get killed – may be the push you need to take conscience that a train – even one going slow – is mightier.
