/r/DesirePath

Photograph via snooOG

Dedicated to the paths that humans prefer, rather than the paths that humans create.

Dedicated to the paths that humans prefer

Rather than the paths that humans create


Guidelines

Posts that do not follow these guidelines may be subject to removal at mod/community discretion.

Every post is required to be a picture of a path, discussion on the paths, or otherwise related to paths. (A path here shall be an area used to get between two or more points, the path must be used by a living thing).

  • Worn tracks don't necessarily constitute a desire path.
  • Avoid posts of animals in zoos.
  • Try to ensure your path is an apparent disregard for designated paths.

From Wikipedia

A desire path (also known as a desire line, social trail, goat track or bootleg trail) can be a path created as a consequence of foot or bicycle traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. The width of the path and its erosion are indicators of the amount of use the path receives. Desire paths emerge as shortcuts where constructed ways take a circuitous route, or have gaps, or are lacking entirely.

Nature Conservation and Desire Paths:

Are you a hiking fan? Do you enjoy your national parks for their natural beauty?

Please consider the following: the use of these paths in nature conservation areas should be discouraged due to the harm to the vegetation. Additionally, people should stick to the predetermined trails for their safety—just because a path is there doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Desire paths in developed urban areas generally don't cause disruption to the ecosystem the same way they would in conservation sites.

PSA by u/ibettershutup


You are encouraged to find desire paths of your community and post pictures of them here.


Related Subreddits

/r/DesirePath

344,048 Subscribers

29

Theres only one correct path at the Truck-stop

Indianapolis Speedway location.

0 Comments
2024/10/31
21:11 UTC

13

The path of the sidewalk is too far from the building and its parking, sooooo...

0 Comments
2024/10/31
21:11 UTC

89

Desired path at a plaza. Not long but used a lot

2 Comments
2024/10/31
19:26 UTC

173

Bikes have desires too!

2 Comments
2024/10/31
11:34 UTC

40

Victoria University

1 Comment
2024/10/31
01:06 UTC

124

The path from/to the grocery store, saves ~30m walking

5 Comments
2024/10/30
16:47 UTC

40

cheeky

1 Comment
2024/10/30
16:02 UTC

37

Fkn Lazy. Cascais, Portugal.

12 Comments
2024/10/30
12:08 UTC

100

I used to take this path often when I lived there as a kid. It was a lot safer

4 Comments
2024/10/30
11:17 UTC

25

At my University

This is my first post on this sub. Strangely people prefer to go around the palm tree rather than use the walk way

3 Comments
2024/10/29
22:27 UTC

1,654

Not a chance in this sub

32 Comments
2024/10/29
11:28 UTC

381

What were they even trying to achieve?

33 Comments
2024/10/29
10:37 UTC

4

Crowd sourced sidewalk gap profect

In grad school I wanted to do a project where I would start a crowd-sourced project of collecting pictures of desire paths on social media to show the city’s sidewalk gaps. It’s a US city and it’s quite car dependent and there’s a lot of bus stops that are just mud puddles. Anybody ever heard of a project like that?

1 Comment
2024/10/29
10:23 UTC

59

Short one

1 Comment
2024/10/28
23:09 UTC

127

The shortcut I take everyday on my bike across the grass is starting to create a desire path

9 Comments
2024/10/28
22:09 UTC

94

Chicago pedestrians aren’t walking further than they have to.

2 Comments
2024/10/28
21:11 UTC

37

Double path

1 Comment
2024/10/28
20:18 UTC

14

At the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, California

0 Comments
2024/10/28
20:12 UTC

38

Double In my apartments parking lot

2 Comments
2024/10/28
18:29 UTC

261

A decades old staple at the post office

1 Comment
2024/10/28
16:49 UTC

17

gap between sidewalks

@ Cheesman park

0 Comments
2024/10/28
15:03 UTC

147

This winding footpath was put in around 6 months ago.

12 Comments
2024/10/28
11:32 UTC

193

Slowly forming in my own back garden

2 Comments
2024/10/28
05:32 UTC

187

at the local train station

(quick picture so didn't realize the blurring at the time 🫠 the path is still visible though so i'm posting anyway)

11 Comments
2024/10/27
23:11 UTC

114

the path most traveled

0 Comments
2024/10/27
18:13 UTC

176

Dogs desire path

4 Comments
2024/10/27
07:37 UTC

33

Short Desire Path!

Right past the stairs is a sidewalk to the same road, haha. Apparently, we'll do anything to avoid stairs. Found yesterday while in a hurry to a new location at my university for my presentation to a freshman class. It went well!

0 Comments
2024/10/26
23:07 UTC

26

Through the Bamboo

And off to the aquatic centre

0 Comments
2024/10/26
21:35 UTC

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