Images of two young people ‘surfing’ at the back of a tram towards Ghent University Hospital are doing the rounds on social media. It is unclear when the stunt dates from. It may seem harmless to some, but ‘bumper surfing’ is actually very dangerous. “If you fall under the device, you can sustain fatal injuries,” the police point out.
LOOK. Two young people ‘surf’ at the back of a tram in Ghent
The concept is not new: hitching a ride on a moving tram by clinging to the back of the device. Even now, images of ‘bumper surfers’ are popping up on social media. A witness captured several young people on camera hanging at the back of a tram near the Sint-Pieters station.
It is still unclear when exactly the images date. The local police were not informed that evening and therefore have no knowledge of the stunt. “We can only advise against it,” says police spokesperson Bart De Cocker. “If we catch someone, we take them off the tram or bus and identify that person. De Lijn then arrives on the spot and will issue a report based on our findings. For adults, the fine can be up to 250 euros. But a minor also risks a fine of 86 euros.”
Tram surfing or bumper surfing is a phenomenon that has been known in Ghent for years. A video was launched in 2011 to discourage such behavior, but an unwise daredevil still appears regularly. “It is extremely dangerous,” De Cocker points out. “The tram is live and the electricity can flash. You can also sustain fatal injuries if you fall under the device. It’s just very irresponsible.”
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