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City planners spend years designing our communities, mapping out roads, parks, and sidewalks with meticulous care. But let's be honest, sometimes you look around and wonder if anyone actually thought about how real people would use the space. You see those dirt paths cutting across manicured lawns? That's just people voting with their feet, ignoring the carefully laid concrete curves. And don't get us started on ramps seemingly designed by someone who's never pushed a stroller or used a wheelchair! We've gathered 31 hilarious and frustrating examples where urban planning clearly took a wrong turn somewhere between the drawing board and reality.

#1

Cat Path In Action

Cat walking on grass near a brick house corner, highlighting city planners' oversight.

astronemma Report

Uncle Panda
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With cats, it isn't a desire path, it's a "fixed-that-for-you-pathetic-human" path.

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    #2

    Next Level Desire Path

    DIY crosswalk painted on a street with traffic cones, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    colfaxmachine Report

    DowntownStevieB
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I so want to do this but with a yellow curb. People near me think it's totally okay to park in a lane of traffic UNDER a traffic light and next to a bus stop.

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    #3

    Strongest Desire Path I’ve Ever Seen

    Pathway blocked by large rocks, highlighting poor city planning amidst a forest setting.

    Ybnjamie Report

    #4

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

    Pathway blocked by parked cars, illustrating poor city planning decisions.

    PharthSharth Report

    DowntownStevieB
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly they didn't make it wide enough out of spite lol

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    #5

    Never Heard Of This Before, But Figured I Had The Perfect One

    Detour sign blocks stairway on hill; unclear city planning decision evident.

    Winter_Following1050 Report

    Mary Morris
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Indeed! Probably some stupid liability issue closed the steps.

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    #6

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

    City planners overlooked a shortcut path through grass diverging from the sidewalk.

    EcstaticFollowing715 Report

    #7

    Desirepath Regocnition In The Netherlands

    Path curved awkwardly around a speed limit sign and trash can, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    r13z Report

    #8

    Desire Steps?

    Path crossing a concrete barrier with a misplaced road work sign, showing poor city planning.

    Sachem81 Report

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    #9

    Dublin Airport Didn't Think This Through

    Shopping carts misaligned with railings, causing wall damage; an oversight in city planning.

    TheBampollo Report

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    #10

    Well Worn Wal-Mart Path. Deepest I've Ever Seen

    Uneven dirt path leading to a store, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    Otherwise-Seaweed-76 Report

    #11

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

    Narrow dirt path through grass, illustrating poor city planning choices.

    SylvanianCuties Report

    #12

    Desire Path Created By A Squirrel We Feed Peanuts To Every Morning

    Path in grass showing city planning oversight, leading to a tree instead of a sidewalk.

    CapeClaw Report

    Uncle Panda
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Should go ahead and name the squirrel Hop-along.

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    #13

    Understandable Desire Path

    A zigzag path in front of a building highlights poor city planning decisions.

    Isabellake1 Report

    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why? To reduce slope for wheelchairs?

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    #14

    Accessibility Ramp At The Resort I’m Staying At In Mexico

    Winding staircase with peculiar railings, showcasing city planners' oversight in design and functionality.

    There are a bunch of other awful ramps around the premises, but this is definitely the worst one.

    Boring_Customer4982 Report

    #15

    Now This Is Awesome, Railway Desire Path

    Uneven stone steps leading through overgrown greenery, showcasing city planners' oversight.

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

    AdministrativeBag355 Report

    #16

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

    Path in a park with misaligned stepping stones showing city planners' oversight.

    mikul444 Report

    sturmwesen
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    because the stones may be set wrong for peoples step width

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    #17

    The Bricks Are A Pain In The Feet

    Misguided city planning: paved path alongside a worn dirt trail under a bridge.

    onairmastering Report

    Teutonic Disaster
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They'll shake your fillings out as well, if you'd be biking along them.

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    #18

    Tiny Path To Avoid The Bumps

    Path ending abruptly at a bridge with poor city planning evident, surrounded by trees at sunset.

    AtmospherePositive57 Report

    #19

    Been Here 30 Years, I Don't Think The Gate Has Ever Been Used

    City planners created a gate leading to a blocked forest path.

    VonBlitzk Report

    James016
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BBC iPlayer asking if you have a TV licence

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    #20

    We Won !

    Curved pedestrian pathway with city planning oversight, marked by warning signs at night.

    _insomniack Report

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    #21

    Those Are Stairs

    Confusing stairs with black and white tile pattern, showing a city planner oversight.

    mbok_jamu Report

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    #22

    Every Waste Can In This Entire Major City's Hospital Is A Lie

    Hand stuck in a poorly designed recycling bin showing city planners' oversight.

    thefreakychild Report

    #23

    Braille Script Instead Of Being Embossed, Is Just Printed In Vande Bharat

    Misaligned seating numbers on public transport, illustrating city planning oversight.

    lemniscaterr Report

    Mreoww
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of the time I found out that the Desmos Graphing Calculator has a braille version. A braille version for an online tool. What are blind people gonna do, read the braille dots on the screen?

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    #24

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

    Cat sitting in a patchy grass area near awkwardly placed woodpile, showing urban planning oversight.

    CleverSeedling Report

    #25

    I Saw This At My School

    Stairs lead to gymnasium doors marked for disability access, highlighting a city planner oversight.

    Frezzi54 Report

    Devin Schmitt
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not a path. "Area of Rescue Assistance".

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    #26

    They're Both Kind Of Appealing

    Two divergent paths in a park highlight city planners' oversight, one paved with lights, the other a rough trail.

    kmaffett1 Report

    El Dee
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'You take the high road and I'll take the low road..'

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    #27

    There Is A Door In The Ceiling Of Our School

    Ceiling panel opens to a blocked wall, illustrating city planners' oversight.

    House_turtles Report

    #28

    Interesting Approach

    Stairs with wheelchair symbols, showcasing a city planning oversight.

    DreamRockStudio Report

    Uncle Panda
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those rails may be to support advanced stair climbing wheelchairs.

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    #29

    If Only There Was A Way To Number Apartments So You Can Tell What Floor They Are On

    Elevator panel with mismatched floor numbers, illustrating a city planners oversight problem in building design.

    deep_fried_guineapig Report

    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just remove the last digit, divide by 2, round up, then subtract 1 if the result is between 6 and 2. Simple!

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    #30

    This Is The Inside Of The Bathroom Door At A Bar In NYC. After Some Cocktails, It Is Impossible To Pick The Right One On The First Try

    A door covered in multiple shiny doorknobs, illustrating a city planning oversight.

    jwstoner86 Report

    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me trying to get a handle on my life

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    #31

    Waiting Room At Pediatric Clinic Has Toys Secured Behind Plexiglass For Display Only - No Actual Toys For The Kids To Play With

    Child in front of a bench too high to see toys, showing city planners’ oversight.

    choirdudematt Report

    sturmwesen
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then there is my childhood pediatrician with walls of antique toys (wood, paper, tin,...) you got to play with

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