The Bottom-Up Revolution Mr. Barricade: How to Quick Build a Connected City
Jun 5, 2025
Vignesh Swaminathan, an engineer and transportation planner with over 1.7 million TikTok followers, shares his insights on urban infrastructure. He discusses the critical connection between transportation and housing in California's neighborhoods. Vignesh highlights his innovative quick-build projects that enhance mobility and community engagement. He emphasizes the role of social media in making urban planning accessible and relatable, aiming to foster better communication and participation in local governance. The conversation also touches on urban innovations in San Jose.
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Housing Depends on Transportation
- Housing development is deeply influenced by transportation infrastructure and planning decisions.
- Expanding roadways and parking requirements can hold back housing supply and affordability.
Engineering Prioritizes Liability, Not Livability
- Engineering focuses on objectives and constraints, often prioritizing liability over livability.
- This mismatch leads to solutions that don't always align with community needs or desires.
Downtown Parking as Wallet Delivery
- Vignesh coordinated downtown San Jose events including Obama's motorcade and marathons.
- He learned that downtown parking is a "wallet delivery system" that prioritizes drivers with money, missing other users.
