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Take a look around. The roads, houses, paths and apartments that we see and utilize every single day were all made and designed by people with a lot of education. Being an architect is not easy, after all. But sometimes no amount of research or education can prepare someone for what humans will actually choose to do.
The “Desire Path” online group is dedicated to those hilarious and wholesome examples of humans and animals actually making their own shortcuts. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and share your thoughts and personal examples in the comments section below.

#1

Now This Is Awesome, Railway Desire Path

Now This Is Awesome, Railway Desire Path

Abandoned railway through a forest that’s been walked for years.

u/AdministrativeBag355 Report

#2

Wrocław, Poland - The Desire To Be Further Away From The Road

Wrocław, Poland - The Desire To Be Further Away From The Road

u/SylvanianCuties Report

#3

Does This Count? It's The Path This Cat & The Local Raccoons Take Across My Backyard

Does This Count? It's The Path This Cat & The Local Raccoons Take Across My Backyard

u/CleverSeedling Report

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j22nol213 avatar
Jenna Kay
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have one too, created by the dogs between the deck and the shop ramp; they just ignore the door!

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A desire path, for those who are wondering, is an “organic,” human or animal-made trail. In short, when we, for example, take a walk in the woods, we tend to try to take the shortest route between location A and location B.

Naturally, there will always be obstacles, trees, branches, roots and rocks. So we will weave around them. Over time, frequenters of any path will discover, almost instinctively, the most efficient route from A to B. They will begin to frequent this path until the grass and other vegetation is worn out and it’s visible to the naked eye.

#4

The Desire Path Got Paved Out And Shifted Half A Meter To The Left

The Desire Path Got Paved Out And Shifted Half A Meter To The Left

I remember the original desire path, the city decited to add a sort of pavement but the distance of the stones from each other makes it extremely uncomfortable to walk on, nevermind if you have a stroller or something. It got sorted rather quickly, people just dont use the pavement.

mikul444 Report

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BeesEelsAndPups
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Designed by people more focused on some aesthetic vision, rather than thinking of the people who would use it

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#5

They Gave In And Paved The Way People Have Been Using For 40 Years

They Gave In And Paved The Way People Have Been Using For 40 Years

u/PharthSharth Report

#6

Strongest Desire Path I’ve Ever Seen

Strongest Desire Path I’ve Ever Seen

Ybnjamie Report

You can see similar examples of this at home. If you have a set of drawers, there will no doubt be at least one that you use more often. Depending on its age and materials, the handle might be more worn down. The important part of a desire path over a “regular” path is that it’s not planned. It is simply the culmination of months or even years of humans just walking.

#7

The Bricks Are A Pain In The Feet

The Bricks Are A Pain In The Feet

u/onairmastering Report

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#9

Tiny Path To Avoid The Bumps

Tiny Path To Avoid The Bumps

u/AtmospherePositive57 Report

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Guess Undheit
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Speed bumps on a BIKE PATH instead of the ROAD where they should be. Typical idiocy.

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Indeed, it’s actually quite easy for us to accidentally make a desire path. This is why some national parks insist on folk’s staying on the designated trails, even if there is no risk from wildlife or other dangers. The Leave No Trace program is an example of this. Groups of humans walking repeatedly over something will wear it down, there are no two ways about it.

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#10

Path From A Tram Station To A McDonald's Restaurant. They Even Built Stairs

Path From A Tram Station To A McDonald's Restaurant. They Even Built Stairs

u/EcstaticFollowing715 Report

#11

The Field Next To Where I Live In Edinburgh Is Filled Little Desire Paths

The Field Next To Where I Live In Edinburgh Is Filled Little Desire Paths

u/charlietoday Report

#12

Joplin, Mo

Joplin, Mo

u/Braina1334 Report

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data1001 avatar
Data1001
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this setting. I've never been there, but just this photo of those woods make me feel so peaceful.

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The examples here are perhaps more extreme, as once, say, concrete is laid down, it’s unlikely that a city or property owner will tear it up just to accommodate some folks who are walking. However, recently, some cities have decided to, instead, incorporate desire paths into walking networks, as they organically reveal where humans actually want to go.

#13

Desire Path Around A Roundabout In My City

Desire Path Around A Roundabout In My City

IH3DG Report

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BrunoVI
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What sort of roundabout from hell is that? I haven't seen a roundabout looking that difficult since I got sheet music to Yes.

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#14

They Can’t Live With Their Own Failure

They Can’t Live With Their Own Failure

u/MedicMisko Report

#15

Infinite Puddle Desire Path

Infinite Puddle Desire Path

u/cheezcakep Report

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Traveling Lady Railfan
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one of those in my neighborhood too. The sidewalk is either flooded or slick and muddy. Everyone goes around, now the desire path is slick and muddy

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This comes out of a more modern approach to urban design and architecture, where intuitive processes are part of anything that is being built. One 2006 study even suggested that businesses should do their utmost to incorporate desire lines into their properties, for example, the layout of a store or even the paths around a parking lot.

#18

Bizarre Path In Geelong Australia

Bizarre Path In Geelong Australia

Dude-Oh-Duuuuuude Report

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Sand Ers
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m betting there’s a regulation limiting how steep a public path can be, and the dogleg is needed to adhere to it.

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After all, these are very clear indications of how humans, en masse, actually behave and businesses would be wise to pay attention. Some call this the wisdom of the crowd, where a variety of people, independently, make similar decisions. Naturally, humans are not actually dumb, we all tend to make rational choices with the options in front of us.

#19

Small But Worthy (Illinois)

Small But Worthy (Illinois)

u/IAmRyanMan7 Report

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#20

My Dog's Everyday Path

My Dog's Everyday Path

u/Velnica Report

#21

As It Turns Out, Cows Have Desire Paths, Too! The Black Dots On The Left Of The Picture Are The Cows. Taken From A Low Flying Aircraft

As It Turns Out, Cows Have Desire Paths, Too! The Black Dots On The Left Of The Picture Are The Cows. Taken From A Low Flying Aircraft

u/Your_Answer_Is_No Report

Finland, for example, takes this very seriously. After the first snowfall, planners will visit parks and pay attention to where the first footprints are left in the snow itself. After all, snow covers the “official” path, which may or may not correlate to where people actually want to go. These findings are then used to update or even redesign the parks.

#22

You Cannot Stop The Path

You Cannot Stop The Path

u/Marshallton Report

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kitten levels tokyo
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The 7 stages of desire path resistance are shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance.

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#23

High Volume Interchange

High Volume Interchange

u/eenachtdrie Report

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Marie Clear
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, that's more than a desire path on the left. It's a two-lane-high-traffic-pave-it-already path.

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#24

No One Wants To Use The Stairs At The End Of The Bridge

No One Wants To Use The Stairs At The End Of The Bridge

u/TertioRationem3 Report

Importantly, animals do this as well! After all, why would a deer care about the wonderfully symmetrical (yet inefficient) lines city planners have made on a map. Animals are creatures of habit just like humans, so it’s not at all impossible to find paths that your local wildlife has pressed into the dirt.

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#26

I Wonder If Anyone Actually Goes Through The Gate

I Wonder If Anyone Actually Goes Through The Gate

u/EllieIsNotOldYet Report

#27

Steep Desire Path, To Avoid A Slick Gravel Section. Lake District, UK

Steep Desire Path, To Avoid A Slick Gravel Section. Lake District, UK

u/paxolotl Report

#28

People Avoiding A UK Superstition - Walking Under Street Signs Is Bad Luck

People Avoiding A UK Superstition - Walking Under Street Signs Is Bad Luck

poppykart Report

#29

Vienna. Austria

Vienna. Austria

lilzip77 Report

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Michael Largey
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The length of any side of triangle will always be less than the sum of the lengths of the other two sides." - Euclid

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#30

A Path Where People Don't Want To Go Side To Side

A Path Where People Don't Want To Go Side To Side

u/Krestenub Report

#31

The Rare "Convenient Detour" Desire Path

The Rare "Convenient Detour" Desire Path

u/HerbziKal Report

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BeesEelsAndPups
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's probably cyclists. Those barriers are designed to slow us down. But it's not very useful if you can just go around

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#32

Humans Don't Like The Nice Windy Path

Humans Don't Like The Nice Windy Path

u/Zarathustrategy Report

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#34

This Desire Path Around A Truck That’s Always Parked In The Same Place At My Work

This Desire Path Around A Truck That’s Always Parked In The Same Place At My Work

anon Report

#35

The Crispest Desire Path I Have Ever Seen Irl

The Crispest Desire Path I Have Ever Seen Irl

u/Naturenurturenickers Report

#38

Government Mandated Desire Path

Government Mandated Desire Path

u/FullMetalToaster Report

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duckie
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that signage was cheaper or more efficient than fixing the wobbly stairs in what way?

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#39

I Guess People Will Still Use This Desired Path

I Guess People Will Still Use This Desired Path

u/Starrxs Report

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#42

Desire Path At My College Campus, I Use This Bad Boy All The Time 👌

Desire Path At My College Campus, I Use This Bad Boy All The Time 👌

u/Adumb__Adam Report

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Verena
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is it there and not cutting the corner wider (more to the left)?

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#44

Path On The Pyrenees Mountains

Path On The Pyrenees Mountains

u/CivBinky Report

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Verena
Community Member
3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Erosion is a serious thing in high mountains. Keeping the grass mat intact prevents mud avalanches happening. Once that path is waljed down to the soil, rain and melting snow will create a shear line. Desire paths are sirt of okay if people are in a hurry. But they are hiking for fun, in wild nature. So get off the lawn, don't trample over the plants struggling already on this heights and stay on the road. Stupid tourists.

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#45

Local Walmart

Local Walmart

u/Consistent_Farm8844 Report

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Guess Undheit
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because "cars are the priority", not human lives. Force people with strollers to go between cars so that they are run over.

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#48

Why Is This A Desire Path?

Why Is This A Desire Path?

u/ABoxIsMyHome Report

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kitten levels tokyo
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

UK superstition against walking between 2 white poles. (Black poles are no problem.)

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#50

Found A Desire Step At An Apartment Parking Lot

Found A Desire Step At An Apartment Parking Lot

u/LawAndRugby Report

Note: this post originally had 80 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.