Benjamin Fry
@bluejekyll.bsky.social
Rust, Rusty Bikes, and making everything safer.
Berkeley, CA.
Berkeley, CA.
Pinned
Benjamin Fry
@bluejekyll.bsky.social
· Nov 22
On Thursday, Nov 14th, I was riding home from BART. At Rose and Josephine in Berkeley, an intersection that I have always treated with care, and especially after dark, I ended up witnessing this tragedy. I saw a car hit a pedestrian (Ben I later learned).
Beloved, long-time Berkeley community member Ben Brown was the pedestrian killed on Rose Street.
Please consider donating to this GoFundMe to help his family with funeral expenses and travel.
gofund.me/c4cb551e
Please consider donating to this GoFundMe to help his family with funeral expenses and travel.
gofund.me/c4cb551e
I just went to the Berkeley Transportation and Infrastructure Commission meeting to recount this story.
That was hard. I barely kept it together. I hope I did Ben justice.
That was hard. I barely kept it together. I hope I did Ben justice.
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
Avid cyclist can't believe your "soft kid" going to school needs bike lanes, "they probably can't even climb Tourmalet."
creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorecord
creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorecord
January 2, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Avid cyclist can't believe your "soft kid" going to school needs bike lanes, "they probably can't even climb Tourmalet."
creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorecord
creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorecord
Oh, and this is the answer to how we close the funding gap for the school buses.
What I really want is congestion pricing at all school drop offs. How can we make that happen?
I guess we just charge anyone driving close to any school during the school day.
Oh, I think I really like this idea.
I guess we just charge anyone driving close to any school during the school day.
Oh, I think I really like this idea.
December 31, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Oh, and this is the answer to how we close the funding gap for the school buses.
There was this person on Twitter (before The Fall), a traffic engineer, that used to argue against infrastructure like this, because drivers shouldn’t potentially be killed for a “mistake”.
I think we need to make driving as hazardous as possible to the drivers to help make them slow down.
I think we need to make driving as hazardous as possible to the drivers to help make them slow down.
Streetcar ridership did not merely decline. It was deterred.
Streetcar passengers did not endanger motorists, but motorists endangered them.
In every city, people boarding, alighting from, or waiting for streetcars accounted for a large fraction of pedestrian traffic casualties. ...
Streetcar passengers did not endanger motorists, but motorists endangered them.
In every city, people boarding, alighting from, or waiting for streetcars accounted for a large fraction of pedestrian traffic casualties. ...
December 31, 2025 at 6:54 PM
There was this person on Twitter (before The Fall), a traffic engineer, that used to argue against infrastructure like this, because drivers shouldn’t potentially be killed for a “mistake”.
I think we need to make driving as hazardous as possible to the drivers to help make them slow down.
I think we need to make driving as hazardous as possible to the drivers to help make them slow down.
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
Growing up biking in Chicago showed this teenager the city at a slower pace (while managing drivers) and through Blackstone Bicycle Works, he even learned to maintain his own bike!
Want to see the full interview? Link below! 👇
Want to see the full interview? Link below! 👇
December 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Growing up biking in Chicago showed this teenager the city at a slower pace (while managing drivers) and through Blackstone Bicycle Works, he even learned to maintain his own bike!
Want to see the full interview? Link below! 👇
Want to see the full interview? Link below! 👇
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
When it saves you money and improves your life to put solar on your roof. You put solar on your roof (South Africa edition).
"Today, solar and battery systems are deployed across a variety of businesses — auto factories and wineries, gold mines and shopping malls. "
"Today, solar and battery systems are deployed across a variety of businesses — auto factories and wineries, gold mines and shopping malls. "
Cheap Solar Is Transforming Lives and Economies Across Africa
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:03 PM
When it saves you money and improves your life to put solar on your roof. You put solar on your roof (South Africa edition).
"Today, solar and battery systems are deployed across a variety of businesses — auto factories and wineries, gold mines and shopping malls. "
"Today, solar and battery systems are deployed across a variety of businesses — auto factories and wineries, gold mines and shopping malls. "
There’s this line of thinking that is basically, the US dealt with its dark past when the “Good” Northerners defeated the “Bad” Southerners, but the history of the US is not so simple.
Look at the original borders of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois).
Lost after 1776.
Look at the original borders of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois).
Lost after 1776.
December 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
There’s this line of thinking that is basically, the US dealt with its dark past when the “Good” Northerners defeated the “Bad” Southerners, but the history of the US is not so simple.
Look at the original borders of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois).
Lost after 1776.
Look at the original borders of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois).
Lost after 1776.
When you start advocating for safer streets and then you start getting excited when looking at blueprints like this.
At some point I should just go and get a traffic engineering degree and be done with it.
At some point I should just go and get a traffic engineering degree and be done with it.
December 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM
When you start advocating for safer streets and then you start getting excited when looking at blueprints like this.
At some point I should just go and get a traffic engineering degree and be done with it.
At some point I should just go and get a traffic engineering degree and be done with it.
It just occurred to me that a significant event just prior to the Great Depression was the lower cost and high scale production of the car, the Model T, etc.
I’ve never read anything about that, but it looks like a few sources agree that it was a significant contributor.
I’ve never read anything about that, but it looks like a few sources agree that it was a significant contributor.
December 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
It just occurred to me that a significant event just prior to the Great Depression was the lower cost and high scale production of the car, the Model T, etc.
I’ve never read anything about that, but it looks like a few sources agree that it was a significant contributor.
I’ve never read anything about that, but it looks like a few sources agree that it was a significant contributor.
Watched Good Fortune with my extended family last night and it raised a question, what places in the US can people get by without a car as a basic requirement for earning money?
Is it required to gig work?
Is it required to gig work?
December 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Watched Good Fortune with my extended family last night and it raised a question, what places in the US can people get by without a car as a basic requirement for earning money?
Is it required to gig work?
Is it required to gig work?
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
i love furniture restoration videos because they show how quality is important and you can get some really beautiful, overlooked furniture if you learn certain skills
IG savedbydesign.tn
IG savedbydesign.tn
December 28, 2025 at 4:42 AM
i love furniture restoration videos because they show how quality is important and you can get some really beautiful, overlooked furniture if you learn certain skills
IG savedbydesign.tn
IG savedbydesign.tn
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
Mom has been zero added sugar kick and she’s so much healthier for it.
She made two pies, no raw sugar used. A Concord Grape pie with very sweet grapes! And an Apple with Dates and Raisins to make it sweeter.
Both were really good, and the fruit and other flavors were much more pronounced.
She made two pies, no raw sugar used. A Concord Grape pie with very sweet grapes! And an Apple with Dates and Raisins to make it sweeter.
Both were really good, and the fruit and other flavors were much more pronounced.
December 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Mom has been zero added sugar kick and she’s so much healthier for it.
She made two pies, no raw sugar used. A Concord Grape pie with very sweet grapes! And an Apple with Dates and Raisins to make it sweeter.
Both were really good, and the fruit and other flavors were much more pronounced.
She made two pies, no raw sugar used. A Concord Grape pie with very sweet grapes! And an Apple with Dates and Raisins to make it sweeter.
Both were really good, and the fruit and other flavors were much more pronounced.
Other countries saved their people by rejecting the American way of life.
I only wish more cities in the US were able to stop the Federal Government from destroying them with highways, displacing and separating communities.
I only wish more cities in the US were able to stop the Federal Government from destroying them with highways, displacing and separating communities.
Proposal By An American City Planner In The 1960s For The Inner City of Amsterdam In The Year 2000
More about the plan: brilliantmaps.com/amsterdam...
More about the plan: brilliantmaps.com/amsterdam...
December 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Other countries saved their people by rejecting the American way of life.
I only wish more cities in the US were able to stop the Federal Government from destroying them with highways, displacing and separating communities.
I only wish more cities in the US were able to stop the Federal Government from destroying them with highways, displacing and separating communities.
As a bike safety advocate, i came to better understand how we can’t have safer streets without addressing housing costs (i.e. build more) and increasing transit.
Without the other two people will end up living far away, not have access to transit, and then be forced to drive making streets unsafe.
Without the other two people will end up living far away, not have access to transit, and then be forced to drive making streets unsafe.
Two workers who make Pennsylvania’s minimum wage would each have to work 96 hours per week to afford the area’s median asking rent.
Good luck affording an apartment in Philly if you earn minimum wage
www.inquirer.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
As a bike safety advocate, i came to better understand how we can’t have safer streets without addressing housing costs (i.e. build more) and increasing transit.
Without the other two people will end up living far away, not have access to transit, and then be forced to drive making streets unsafe.
Without the other two people will end up living far away, not have access to transit, and then be forced to drive making streets unsafe.
I don’t know how I missed this, but every tech person should get this instinctively.
What do we do when network traffic is overwhelming our systems? We block the source.
Shouldn’t cities do the same?
What do we do when network traffic is overwhelming our systems? We block the source.
Shouldn’t cities do the same?
Car traffic is a DDoS attack on cities.
December 26, 2025 at 4:03 AM
I don’t know how I missed this, but every tech person should get this instinctively.
What do we do when network traffic is overwhelming our systems? We block the source.
Shouldn’t cities do the same?
What do we do when network traffic is overwhelming our systems? We block the source.
Shouldn’t cities do the same?
“All Flourishing is Mutual”
What a profound opening statement in “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
What a profound opening statement in “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
December 26, 2025 at 2:38 AM
“All Flourishing is Mutual”
What a profound opening statement in “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
What a profound opening statement in “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
Sort of like how one has to diversify an investment portfolio or risk losing everything all at once, a transportation system that doesn't have a diversity of modes is destined to crash. Building everything around cars, autonomous or otherwise, is always going to lead to this outcome.
waymo paused its robotaxi service as national weather service issued flash flood warnings in SF on christmas - @cnbc.com
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/25/w...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/25/w...
Waymo pauses robotaxis in SF again due to flash flood warnings on Christmas Day
Waymo again paused it robotaxi service, citing a flash flood warning on Christmas Day.
www.cnbc.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Sort of like how one has to diversify an investment portfolio or risk losing everything all at once, a transportation system that doesn't have a diversity of modes is destined to crash. Building everything around cars, autonomous or otherwise, is always going to lead to this outcome.
Gave 5 “Life After Cars” copies away for Christmas today. One is already halfway consumed. Thank you @thewaroncars.bsky.social!
December 26, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Gave 5 “Life After Cars” copies away for Christmas today. One is already halfway consumed. Thank you @thewaroncars.bsky.social!
Reposted by Benjamin Fry
My annual roundup of new East Bay separated bikeways via @bikeeastbay.bsky.social is live, w photos & details for a record 35 facilities across 10 cities.
BikeEastBay.org/2025protectedbikeways/
BikeEastBay.org/2025protectedbikeways/
December 22, 2025 at 9:23 PM
My annual roundup of new East Bay separated bikeways via @bikeeastbay.bsky.social is live, w photos & details for a record 35 facilities across 10 cities.
BikeEastBay.org/2025protectedbikeways/
BikeEastBay.org/2025protectedbikeways/
To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 5:20 AM
To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas!
This is a perfect example of how bad dense urban housing is. Look at those towers, they’re just ugly boxes, no architectural style whatever. Who approved that design?!
But those SFH, so beautiful and majestic! The choice is simple.
(This is a joke, I love the ginger bread multi family homes!)
But those SFH, so beautiful and majestic! The choice is simple.
(This is a joke, I love the ginger bread multi family homes!)
Housing should be abundant, affordable, and available to everyone. That is why I have spent years fighting for pro housing legislation that actually delivers results. Because of the laws I have authored, thousands of new homes are being built across San Francisco and California.
December 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This is a perfect example of how bad dense urban housing is. Look at those towers, they’re just ugly boxes, no architectural style whatever. Who approved that design?!
But those SFH, so beautiful and majestic! The choice is simple.
(This is a joke, I love the ginger bread multi family homes!)
But those SFH, so beautiful and majestic! The choice is simple.
(This is a joke, I love the ginger bread multi family homes!)
‘The Waymo "may occasionally request a confirmation check" when it encounters dark traffic signals to "ensure it makes the safest choice," the statement said.’
In other words, Waymo’s still require human operators and when all the cars call for help, they don’t have enough staff.
In other words, Waymo’s still require human operators and when all the cars call for help, they don’t have enough staff.
December 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
‘The Waymo "may occasionally request a confirmation check" when it encounters dark traffic signals to "ensure it makes the safest choice," the statement said.’
In other words, Waymo’s still require human operators and when all the cars call for help, they don’t have enough staff.
In other words, Waymo’s still require human operators and when all the cars call for help, they don’t have enough staff.
But we can’t have bike lanes because of evacuations. lol.
“During a disaster with a consequent power outage, Waymos would be blocking evacuation routes. Hard to believe no one asked these questions, until you realize that good governance is suspended when billionaires knock on the door.”
www.commondreams.org/news/waymo-r...
www.commondreams.org/news/waymo-r...
'Stuck and Confused' Waymo Robotaxis Snarl San Francisco Traffic During Massive Blackout | Common Dreams
"During a disaster... Waymos would be blocking evacuation routes. Hard to believe no one asked these questions, until you realize that good governance is suspended when billionaires knock on the door,...
www.commondreams.org
December 22, 2025 at 6:58 AM
But we can’t have bike lanes because of evacuations. lol.
As Americans stop, or significantly reduce, alcohol consumption for health reasons (as someone in this category I highly recommend to cutting back).
My wish for 2026 is that those same people recognize the similar health benefits that come from reducing car use.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
My wish for 2026 is that those same people recognize the similar health benefits that come from reducing car use.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
As Americans stop, or significantly reduce, alcohol consumption for health reasons (as someone in this category I highly recommend to cutting back).
My wish for 2026 is that those same people recognize the similar health benefits that come from reducing car use.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
My wish for 2026 is that those same people recognize the similar health benefits that come from reducing car use.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Happy Winter Solstice!
I’ve never understood why today isn’t actually New Year’s Eve, but it should be.
2026 is coming, and it wants its future back, get ready!
I’ve never understood why today isn’t actually New Year’s Eve, but it should be.
2026 is coming, and it wants its future back, get ready!
December 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Happy Winter Solstice!
I’ve never understood why today isn’t actually New Year’s Eve, but it should be.
2026 is coming, and it wants its future back, get ready!
I’ve never understood why today isn’t actually New Year’s Eve, but it should be.
2026 is coming, and it wants its future back, get ready!