Introducing Urbanist TikTok

It was only a matter of time, and we're probably well behind the times, but the social media platform du jour, TikTok, has a lot to offer the discerning urbanist.

1 minute read

June 29, 2021, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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It might be time to make room on your homescreen for another social media app. | Jason A. Howie / flickr

Caitlin Rogger shares the recommendations of Greater Greater Washington staffers for urbanist TikTok recommendations.

The results include @TalkingCities, which recently produced a viral hit with a blistering critique of car-centric planning.

@mrbarricade also had a viral hit with a passionate discussion of a protected intersection in San Jose, California (designed by Mr. Barricade himself).

Rogger also shares a Tik Tok from @frederick_lewis1, who describes the environmental racism apparent in the land uses of Harris County, Texas.

As for why anyone and everyone should care about the urbanism discussions happening on TikTok, Roggers writes the following:

To me, urbanism means making the most of cities’ great potential to bring values that many of us share to life: sustainability, equity, and human connection. It’s not always easy to communicate those connections to a mass audience, so I’m tickled by these short efforts that hit a sweet spot somewhere between the 140 characters of a tweet and a full-sized blog post in a more interpersonal format. 

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