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Humans argue about a lot of things, but if there’s one thing we’re consistent about, it’s this: we don’t like unnecessary effort. When something feels overcomplicated, we’ll often, whether we realize it or not, look for the easier way out.
That shared instinct often shows up as desire paths, the unofficial trails people create by repeatedly taking the most convenient shortcut. There’s even an entire subreddit dedicated to this phenomenon, and below you’ll find some of the latest posts from it. Funny how nothing gets us on the same page faster than a shared “nope.”
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#1
My Dog's Desire Path, Even 10 Years After He's Gone
RELATED:
#3
Do Non Human Desire Paths Count?
#4
Viscardigasse Is A Street In Munich With A Path Paved In Bronze To Honor Those Who Took It To Avoid Having To Do The Salute
#5
People Said No To This Speed Bump
Charlotte Ingle 21 hours ago
Is that seriously a bicycle speed bump? Never seen one before, probably because it doesn't look snowplow compatible.
#6
This Person Turned A Desire Path To KFC Into California's Shortest Hiking Trail
Instagram user matterneuroscience spotted an urban desire path that led to a KFC in an urban area in North Auburn California.
In an act of civic silliness, they named the 0.05 mile trail the Chicken Little Trail, put up an official-looking trail marker, and then informed Google Maps of its existence.
#7
The People Yearn For A Sidewalk
#8
If Not Path, Then Why Path-Shaped?
#9
Yeah That Wasn't Gonna Happen
Charlotte Ingle 21 hours ago
I don't understand what the plan was.where there supposed to be trees in the loops?
#10
View From My Office Building
Charlotte Ingle 21 hours ago
Might as well make those official and pave them, they all seem to lead somewhere
#11
The Amount Of Time Saved By This One Is Insane
#12
Wish I Could See What The View Is Like From Up There!
#13
Officially Recognized Now
Nice desired path on the UCF campus; after spring break, this sign popped up.
UnclePanda 10 hours ago
It might say "15 ft" at the bottom but "0.002 miles" makes it funnier.
#14
It’s Beautiful
#15
There's A Guy At The Park Who Does Tai Chi So Much He Left A Ring In The Ground
#16
Path Through The Great Wall Of China
#17
Desire Path Made Official
#18
It Would Be Easier To Move The Crosswalk Instead
Sally Moen 17 hours ago
Because a crosswalk forces drivers to stop and pay attention, and when they do not and the pedestrian is injured or k1ll3d, it's the fault of the crosswalk.
#19
A Desire Path So Desired That It's Recognized By Google
#20
Very Pronounced Desire Path At My School
#21
Informally Called The "Kitty Highway", The Neighborhood Cat Trail Through Our Yard Was Near Invisible Until First Snowfall
#22
Desirestaircase?
Brian Droste 3 hours ago
If there is a easier but a longer way around, I would take that route at my age.
#23
Desire Path Around A Roundabout In My City
#24
Does A Path Created By Ants Count?
#25
McDonald's Tried To Fight It But After A Few Years Went With It
#26
The Bikes Don't Want To Take The Long Way Around
#27
The Desire Was Strong
#28
Fun Sign At A School Trying To Abolish, Terminate, And End A Desire Path
#29
Desire Path Through The Hedge
#32
Path Of Ice Shows Where People Used To Walk
UnclePanda 10 hours ago (edited)
Goats will do this but what's missing is that they also drop 'nannyberries' continually. So what you really wind up with in the spring is a long, narrow ice and pooop lasagna that's the last thing to melt.
#33
I Don't Think People Are Listening
#34
People Walking On The Grass Because Of The Huge Uncomfortable "Gravel" Used
#35
They Think This Will Stop Us
Sally Moen 17 hours ago
Spreading a bit of fine gravel onto the muddy path would have been cheaper and made the path safer
#36
Who Would Want To Walk 200m Extra
Serena Myers 34 minutes ago
Humans and animals, all creatures, follow the easiest and quickest path.
#37
Desire Paths Connecting A Suburban Neighborhood To The Strip Mall Next To It In The Mojave
#38
My And The Other Cats From The House Made A Desirepath Over The Years
It‘s fascinating to see 7 cats adhere to their path.
#39
Desire Path Made Into A Real Path!
#40
Brussels University
#42
Slovakia (Allegedly)
#43
Bike Desire Path In The Netherlands
Nicole Weymann 15 hours ago
Who plans stairs in a public space in the *Netherlands* and doesn't account for bikers?
#44
Classic American No-Sidewalk Desire Path
Lee Gilliland 2 hours ago
You guys do realize that until the 1960s it was unusual to have paved sidewalks unless you lived in a city, right?
#45
The People Have Spoken
#46
Nobody Could Plan For This
Sally Moen 17 hours ago
Hmm, I think I'll walk 30 feet down the sidewalk to the break in the hedge in order to turn right 90 degrees then left 90 degrees so I can follow directions some city engineer decided
#47
Why Should I Go Left, If I Need To Go Right?
#48
You Can't Stop Them
#49
Not Taking The Stairs
#50
Because Walking Above The Path Is More Fun
#51
Wow! 🤩 Does This Count? A Paved Desire Path In Tirana, Albania
#52
My Trusty Desire Path Is Under Attack. How To Proceed?
#53
Not Sure How To Feel About This One
Charlotte Ingle 21 hours ago
No one is damaging the headstone, and the deceased might have been chuffed to know people stepped aside for them in perpetuity!
#54
They Took Our Desire Path :(
#55
Two Different Desire Paths By Squirrels And Rats. The Park Is Covered By Them. I Think It’s Neat
#57
Desire Path In Dutch Is Elephant Path
Nicole Weymann 15 hours ago
Let's start a collection: In German it's "Trampelpfad", literally "stomping path". 😀
#58
We’ve Been Betrayed
Forrest Hobbs 19 hours ago
Pfft. Anyone with normal walking ability can go right over that, surely? - put a foot on the rail, up and over, no worries. The rubbish bin gives a good idea of the rather low height. Hmm. Okay, maybe people shorter than my average-for-a-man height might disagree. Still, small children will either duck under or have fun climbing or leaping over.
#59
Mushrooms Growing A Straight Line To The Sewer
#60
At The University I'm At They Decided To Fence Off A Path To Prevent People Going Up It
#61
Why Only One When You Can Have Four?
Charlotte Ingle 21 hours ago
Going traffic, retiring traffic, and the person they were each talking to
#62
I'm Pretty Sure The Homeowners Made This For Themselves
#63
Humans: Invent Roads. Also Humans: Nah, I Forge My Own Destiny
Forrest Hobbs 19 hours ago
Yeah, now then: see that green Asda sign to the far right? See where it says "Diolch"? That's Welsh for "Thanks". This is in Wales. Putting up a sign that's only in English in Wales pretty guarantees it'll get ignored - Welsh is official in Wales, and Welsh comes first on signs. I mean, not that a sign would work here in any case, but... 🤣 (I"m faintly surprised that someone hasn't done the decent thing with a spray can and obliterated the English-only sign - perhaps that happened next week. I'm English and I don't speak Welsh, but I do sympathise, you know?)
#64
Golf Course Trying To Fight The Desire Path
#65
Alternate Network
#68
Desire Path Blocked With Impermeable Barrier
#71
Some People Would Do Anything To Avoid Stairs
#72
Could This Be The Smallest One Ever ???
Brian Droste 2 hours ago
Are people so lazy that they couldn't take a extra second or two to go around the corner? Apparently so.
#75
The Most Unnecessary Desire Path
#76
The Cones Tried And Failed
#77
Oh No They Blocked It
#79
Shaving Those Valuable Seconds Off!
Blackmoon The Dragon 11 hours ago
Some people just don't like to go around sharp corners (aka me)
#84
Shortcut To The Trailhead
#88
Red Harvester Ants Have Created A Desire Path In My Turf
#90
Cleveland State – The Snow Melts Slower On The Path
#93
Desire Path?
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What do you think ?
Laszlo Larthlanc 9 hours ago
When I'm trying to get someplace new in the local National Forest I almost always look for the desire paths made by deer, bears, and coyotes. Frequently the same path is used by all animals, and they always find the shortest and easiest route.
carmenagnes 4 hours ago
I get paid over 220 Bucks per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. i never thought i'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 15k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. the potential with this is endless..., COPY HERE➤➤ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Load More Replies...
Ece Cenker 13 hours ago
I'm surprised to find out that the snow melts slower on the paths compared to on the grass/earth. I would expect people to keep walking on the paths and melt the snow earlier.
UnclePanda 10 hours ago
The snow gets compacted and can approach ice in density.
Load More Replies...
Parmeisan 5 hours ago
I used to always walk the official paths, not wanting to k**l the grass. Eventually I realized that either it's just one person and that won't hurt the grass, or it's a bunch of people and I'm only contributing to the inevitable. I might still avoid grass that's struggling but not fully-fledged desire path, but otherwise, it really is on the designers/planners to account for human behaviour.
Laszlo Larthlanc 9 hours ago
When I'm trying to get someplace new in the local National Forest I almost always look for the desire paths made by deer, bears, and coyotes. Frequently the same path is used by all animals, and they always find the shortest and easiest route.
carmenagnes 4 hours ago
I get paid over 220 Bucks per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. i never thought i'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 15k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. the potential with this is endless..., COPY HERE➤➤ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Load More Replies... Ece Cenker 13 hours ago
I'm surprised to find out that the snow melts slower on the paths compared to on the grass/earth. I would expect people to keep walking on the paths and melt the snow earlier.
UnclePanda 10 hours ago
The snow gets compacted and can approach ice in density.
Load More Replies... Parmeisan 5 hours ago
I used to always walk the official paths, not wanting to k**l the grass. Eventually I realized that either it's just one person and that won't hurt the grass, or it's a bunch of people and I'm only contributing to the inevitable. I might still avoid grass that's struggling but not fully-fledged desire path, but otherwise, it really is on the designers/planners to account for human behaviour.
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