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John Ewing

@avimentor.bsky.social

320 followers 140 following 650 posts

Cancer Survivor, Canophile, Active Transport Cyclist, retired Pilot/Flight Instructor/Pilot Examiner, Life-long Human, born at 314.8 ppm

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · Oct 20

"Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century."

Astrid Schomaker
Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 2d

As I've said before, riding the new CalTrain reminds one of Europe.

Riding BART is like being in high school detention.

Bryan Culbertson 🥄 @bryanculbertson.com · 2d

For comparison, Caltrain's higher per-rider funding provides common amenities for regional service like on-train staff, trash cans, bathrooms, tables, wifi, etc.

We should fund BART to have standard amenities too, not ask nation's most efficient transit agency to "identify additional cost savings"

Reposted by John Ewing

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 5d

Hard to find a more obvious example of the journalism adage “If someone says it’s raining outside and someone else says it isn’t, your job is not to quote them both, your job is to go outside.”

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 5d

A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.

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Reposted by John Ewing

𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚎 🚇 @taras-grescoe.com · 6d

“We assume that car use is an incompressible liquid that must be routed somewhere. But it’s more more like a gas that fills whatever space it is given.”

—Ian Lockwood, Harvard Loeb Fellow, transport planner.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 6d

The MTC website talks about how important the RSR Bridge Path is for the 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail.

So that's why they are restricting access to the path, 4 days per week.

Makes perfect sense. No notes. 🙄

mtc.ca.gov/operations/p...

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Path

The bicycle and pedestrian path across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge creates a new route across the Bay and a vital link in the 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail.

mtc.ca.gov

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 6d

RSR Bridge Path Closures start on Monday 10/27/25.

New Richmond/San Rafael Bridge Path Hours
Effective 10/27/25
Thurs 2pm - Sun 11pm
Free shuttle available
Mon - Wed, 6am - 8pm
Thurs 6am - 2pm

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Reposted by John Ewing

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 7d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 8d

Remember riding the new A. Zuckermann Path, watching the old Bay Bridge being dismantled, & marveling: "We used to drive on THAT?"

I get the same uneasy feeling on the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge today.

Someone should be planning for a RSR Bridge replacement. Like, NOW.

Backlit photo of the old SF/Oakland Bay Bridge, partially demolished.

Reposted by John Ewing

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 11d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 10d

Found at my neighborhood bookstore.

Read for your Rights
Banned Books Week
Oct 5 - 11, 2025

American Booksellers for Free Expression
Censorship is so 1984
Read for your Rights
Banned Books Week
Oct 5 - 11, 2025

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 12d

A friend just send me this photo. Appears it was taken on Russell St at College Ave in Berkeley’s Elmwood neightborhood. Sorry I can’t give credit to the photographer.

Sign attached to a post next to a No Parking sign, saying:

Be a responsible citizen. Properly dispose of your dog’s waste.
Place it into the nearest Cybertruck ...

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 15d

Just a reminder that convenient bicycle parking on Solano Avenue is available AT NO CHARGE.

Also, you don’t need to provide any identifying information to park a bike there.

Bianca Walser @biancawalser.bsky.social · 15d

Won't someone please think of the drivers?

Screenshot from Nextdoor that reads: "As if parking on Solano isn’t bad enough, now I have to know my license plate number? And I still have to put the paper on my dashboard? Yet another reason to (unfortunately) stop shopping on Upper Solano."

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 15d

Here’s a map of the intersection with the strange slip-lane thingy circled in RED. Good location to implement a roundabout, methinks.

Map of the 5-way intersection of Stockton, Ashbury, and Ablemarle in El Cerrito, CA with the strange slip-lane circled in RED.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 15d

Hey #CityOfElCerrito,

Nearly hit by a speeding driver approaching an unusual & dangerous 5-way intersection at Ashbury/Ablemarle/Stockton while I was cycling to buy pet food. Why does this slip-lane thingy even exist? Just to expedite drivers entering the 7/11 parking lot?

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 17d

Interesting that the road design seems to provide plenty of safe space fo parked cars and garbage/recycling bins. 🤦

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 17d

It’s unthinkable that a driver would intentionally not yield, cut off peds/cyclists, close-pass, speed, but ANY OF US can exhibit this behavior when we’re under stress or pressure.

The main source of these external pressures for drivers?

Large-scale transportation by car is incredibly inefficient.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 17d

Jalopnik correctly identifies driver behavior as the hazard, but distracted driving is just 1 hazard.

Aviation has long recognized that EXTERNAL PRESSURES distort our ability to manage risk.

Here’s what it looks like for drivers:

STRESS -> FRUSTRATION -> IMPATIENCE -> ANGER -> RECKLESS BEHAVIOR

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 17d

“In 2023, cars and their drivers killed 8,820 American pedestrians and bicyclists — 7,314 pedestrians and 1,166 cyclists. They injured another 136,281, an increase of over 5,300 injuries from 2022.”

Put the responsibility where it belongs. Via @jalopnik.bsky.social www.jalopnik.com/1979666/defe...

No, Defensive Walking Isn't The Solution For Road Deaths - Jalopnik

It's victim-blaming, it's bull, and it's not the solution we need.

www.jalopnik.com

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 17d

Kudos to @berkeleyca.gov for creating this raised crossing at Franklin when the Ohlone Greenway near N Berkeley BART was repaved. All ped/bike crossings should be like this.

Photo of a pedestrian/bike crossing where the path stays at sidewalk level and the road has to rise.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

When my CalTrans safety concern ticket was closed, they provided an email address to use to contact someone directly, but that address is no longer valid. 🤦

I called CalTrans District 4 and left a VM. I think most people would just give up at this point, but not me! 🤣

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

I’d have to ask my cycling buddy who was in the lead. I couldn’t hear much due to the traffic noise. I just heard my buddy tell him “No bueno” ...

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

Reported to Safety Concern to CalTrans and their response:

"Your concern as reported to Caltrans has been reviewed and determined that no service request is needed for this location therefore, this ticket will be closed."

🤔

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

Nice day for a bike ride on the SF Bay Trail today, but CalTrans always seems to ensure cyclists don't have a moments peace.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

Sent a report of this hazardous encounter to CalTrans this morning. Will be curious to see how they respond.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

An NPR listener since the 1980s, this was one of the most offensive stores I've ever heard.

Aggressive, antisocial behavior by drivers is at an all time high. Statistics show people outside of a car are paying dearly. NPR, stop victim blaming & raise the awareness of people behind the wheel.

The Boston LOL 💜 🚲 ⚡ @thebostonlol.bsky.social · 21d

You can give feedback on this victim blaming article here:

This story was edited by Meghan Keane. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

NPR @npr.org · 21d

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 20d

Nice day for a bike ride on the SF Bay Trail today, but CalTrans always seems to ensure cyclists don't have a moments peace.

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John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 22d

Cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge by car, by bike, or on foot, and one thing is very clear: the bridge is deteriorating rapidly & our leaders should be working on a replacement. NOW.

The new design should include accommodations for LRT, buses, and, of course bikes and pedestrians.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 22d

14 CFR 91.13 and 91.15 might be applicable.

§ 91.13 Careless or reckless operation.

(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

§ 91.15 Dropping objects.

No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.