I was out jogging today and stopped at a fumikiri and decided to record a video on how to cross a fumikiri safely

A long time ago, I was teaching at a school in a rural part of a suburb that many people commute into Tokyo from. The children at the school had never experienced crossing a track at a level crossing! They didn't know how a fumikiri opperates. It was startling to observe their homeroom teacher trying to elicit from them how to safely cross. They needed even the most basic instruction - when you hear the bell, stop. Wait for the bars to raise. Heads up and don't dawdle. Good on you for pointing out the emergency button. The train line through my town has many level crossings where accidents happen - stalled vehicles, people having crises (sometimes mental crises) while crossing.

And then there's cyclists. Seriously, if it's a level crossing with multiple tracks and heavy car traffic, you are wise to dismount. I saw a cyclist swerve at a crossing to avoid a car and get the front wheel of their bike stuck in the track space. No bueno.