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There was one uni that didn't have paths until after the students walked over that lawns, then they made the paths based on the wear. wonder if this is that place.
this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2024
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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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That was OSU (Ohio State University) IIRC.
Yep, I went to school there, it’s actually pretty interesting to walk on.
I don't think this is a rare means of design. Mine also had desire paths replaced with concrete.
That’s what a “desire path” is
That reminds me of three cities I used to frequent. You could predict their economic and political situation based on the way desire paths were being handled.
- Place 1: poor, left-wing. Nothing, the desire paths were left alone.
- Place 2: rich, left-wing. Desire paths were nicely paved over.
- Place 3: rich, right-wing. They placed big branches on a desire path to block it. After people started climbing over them, they fell a tree on it.
What about poor, right wing? I think we need a political compass for desire paths.
What grass? That's just a parking lot.
🎵Don't it always seem to go,
That ya don't know whatcha got,
Till it's gone,
They paved Paradise,
Put up a parking lot🎵
--Joni Mitchell, "Big Yellow Taxi" (1970)