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the heart wants what it wants
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2025
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Desire Paths
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Desire paths Desire paths can be paths created as a consequence of erosion caused by human or animal foot-fall or traffic. The paths usually represent the shortest or most easily navigated routes between origins and destinations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path
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it's a very calm dead-end street with maybe 8 houses and iirc speed is limited to 30km. You can walk in the middle of the street and you would still be safe.
There was even a hoop left in the street. If kids can play basketball there, i think you can walk safely. (i walked and cycled on the street. It was raining.)
edit: i'm on "fuck cars" too. This photo isn't about cars.
Uh, what?
I mean my message as a joke. The idea of "Desire Paths" is that you note how people work, frequently against "rules", when they simply walk around on grass. Above I disagree with @merde@sh.itjust.works's point about the safety of this street, because in my mind, if the desire path is as on the picture, then there are good reasons for it to be this case. I then go on and suggest to embrace it and not consider the street so safe maybe.
Actually re-reading my message, I think I'm wa-a-ay too aggressive and pushy. The OP just notes his opinion, and their message wasn't mandating that it's the truth and the final truth. I guess I should be more chill
there's an "official" mapped bike/walk path that joins the street 200m away. It passes through a park and a creek. From the traces what i assume is that after riding between trees and on a path, people don't want to get down to the street but just continue riding/walking on the grass (which no longer is grass).
I love desire paths but i really couldn't understand this one. I've seen more interesting ones in that area, i just need a break from the rain to have the courage to stop and take photos.
i thought i've found a shortcut but the street curves away from my commute. I may go back on a sunny Sunday.
Looks like a rich suburb that can influence decision makers to privatise the circulation by having multiple dead-ends. If a car is there, they're either lost or they live there.
I'd have to look at a map to be certain, but it sort of looks like the curve the desire path is cutting may be part of a larger traffic-calming measure you often find in residential areas to encourage mindful driving. Pedestrians don't need to be slowed down, and aren't bound to a roadway, so it'd stand to reason they'd just take the shortest distance between two points.