Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John Ewing

@avimentor.bsky.social

320 followers 140 following 640 posts

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

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

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

1 2

Reposted by John Ewing

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

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

800 17K 37K

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 2d

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 · 4d

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 · 7d

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 · 7d

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 · 7d

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 · 7d

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?

1 1

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 9d

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

1 4

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 9d

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 · 9d

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 · 9d

“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

1 4

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 9d

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.

2 15

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 12d

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 · 12d

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 · 12d

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 · 12d

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.

3 4

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 12d

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

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 12d

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 · 13d

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 · 13d

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.

1 3

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 12d

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.

1 11

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 14d

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 · 14d

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.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 16d

At least there’s a fence & berm. Bikes are allowed on I-280 between Trousdale & Millbrae, no protection whatsoever. I rode it once just to see how bad it was.

Other similar craziness exists on CA1 between SLO & Morro Bay and US 101 between SLO & Santa Margarita.

Gotta be other examples, too.

Entrance ramp from Trousdale Ave onto I-280. A sign on the right says Pedestrians Not Allowed. It used to say Pedestrians and Bicycles Not Allowed, but the bicycles part was covered.

View of I-280, just before the Millbrae exit. A sign on the right says Bicycles Must Exit.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 16d

We need a new state law.

If a driver loses control & collides with a building, utility pole, fire hydrant, etc, that driver or their insurance is liable for all repairs.

In the case where a driver collides with a house, they must pay for installation of steel bollards to protect said house.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 17d

"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

George Orwell

NPR @npr.org · 18d

The Pentagon is implementing new guidelines that will require journalists to sign a pledge and agree to report only approved and officially released information.

Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon

The Pentagon is implementing new guidelines that will require journalists to sign a pledge and agree to report only approved and officially released information.

www.npr.org

1 3

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 19d

Love this trompe l'œil.

Imagine there were still streetcars stopping at the top of Solano Avenue in Berkeley and throughout the East Bay.

Imagine.

A mural, painted on a garage door, showing the historic, orange F line streetcar. A woman in a blue dress is shown with her left arm raised, signaling she would like to board.

Reposted by John Ewing

Jay Kuo @nycjayjay.bsky.social · 21d

Pam Bondi has a lot to say about hate speech and the First Amendment after Charlie Kirk’s murder. The problem is, everything she says is flat-out wrong under controlling Supreme Court law. Why she needs to go back to law school is in today’s write-up, in the replies.

56 120 950

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 22d

Yes, it’s time for metal, concrete-filled bollards.

John Ewing @avimentor.bsky.social · 22d

I reported this month ago, along with a business zone parking spot at that corner that should be painted red.