Getting off track...

Walking home from school the other day, I was severely disappointed and annoyed when I looked up and saw a shiny, new chain-link fence obstructing my path.  I was aware from reading an article on the KXAN website last month that a D.C. transplant with some mysterious agenda was scheming to make my walking-commute to school a hassle.  She finally got her way.  Ms. Jessica Tunon apparently lives AND works in buildings directly overlooking the Union Pacific train tracks that pass through downtown Austin.  Haunted by some vauge personal connection to a suicide involving a train, this woman has made it her agenda to inhibit pedestrians from walking across the downtown train tracks. 
 

Here are my thoughts on the issue:
 

First, we can't base the safety of the general public upon a crazy person's choice of suicide method.  If we do, then we need to disallow the public to cross bridges, drive cars, and possess guns, rope, tylenol, and kitchen knives.  This isn't realistic.
 

Secondly, while tresspassing on train tracks is a risky activity, it is far less risky than walking near a road.  In the past three years in Travis County there have been 4 casualties involving pedestrians and trains, only one of which was a fatality.  In 2011 alone, 22 pedestrians were killed by cars in Austin.  When I walk to school, I'm taking a risk--mostly by walking on sidewalks and crossing intersections.
 

Thirdly, I do realize that it is illegal to cross train tracks anywhere other than designated pedestrian or roadway crossings.  I also know that it is illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limit, to pass through an intersection without coming to a full stop at a stop sign, and to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.  But there is nothing PREVENTING me from breaking any of those laws.  While it would be nice if there was something blocking me from parking near a fire hydrant that I didn't see, I'm really thankful that my car is able to drive as fast as I choose to make it go.  As a citizen of Austin, I have the responsibility to choose to obey the laws.  And to suffer the consequences if I choose not to.  The city of Austin should not prevent me from choosing to walk across the train tracks.
 

Additionally, and this is my biggest complaint, Austin is a growing and changing city, especially the downtown area.  When I left Austin after high school, practically no one lived downtown.  Now that I've returned and ten years have passed, thousands of people are making downtown Austin their home--and loving it!  If Austin wants to welcome more urban-dwellers it has to become a safe and convenient walkable city.  Building a 1,800-foot barrier through town separating Lady Bird Lake with its beautiful hike-and-bike trail, the YMCA, Zach Scott Theatre, and the weirdness of south Austin from downtown, Whole Foods, and my ACC campus of choice is ridiculous. 

Finally, if the city of Austin is really concerned about the safety of its pedestrians, which I do really believe it is, then the $22,000 invested into this fence should have been used to repair and improve sidewalks, crossing signals, and crosswalks.  And maybe a one-way ticket for Ms. Tunon back to D.C.  Just kidding, I'm a friendly Texan and I welcome out-of-staters to our great city.  They just need to learn that we Texans use fences to keep our cattle on our land, not our walkers off of railroad tracks!