I guess bike paths aren't defined as roads under New Mexico's statutes. If they were, then there would be a legal requirement for the rail crossings to have either a stop sign or crossing guards/flashing lights. This is just another intersection type failure mode for sidepaths. Sure, people should be able to see/hear a train, but there are many more common hazards that people don't manage to see/hear either.

So, just to tee off some segregationists, this woman would still be alive if she had forsaken the side path and taken the lane.

We had a similar death locally a year or so ago. The cyclist had ear buds in, although no one knows if he had anything playing. The city created a dangerous sidewalk connection between the riverfront bike paths and the university and this fellow used it. Unfortunately, there are no crossing guards or warning lights and the sight line down the track is woefully limited by fences and bushes. He crossed simultaneously with a train that was doing about forty mph. The tie went in the train's favor, as usual.