Desire path for straight sidewalk
this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2025
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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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I live in Canada, the sidewalk abutting the street is not an issue, and the only time I hear such antisidewalk nonsense is from americans (in MPH of course). That 30 cm of grass is not a meaningful barrier of any kind and the pole is not built to be a car barrier.
You are saying that you should not have a sidewalk directly next to a street, due to the speed of the street. A uniquely anti sidewalk us-centric view, not saying you are against sidewalks but that you have bought the bad civil engineering at work there. I have not demonstrated to you anything about my knowledge of civil engineering, just that I disagree with yours.
This same argument has been tried here to not put in a sidewalk. Its weak and silly. Sure having a barrier is better but a having a sidewalk is leagues better then not having one or having the one pictured above.
It is bad civil engineering as in it costs more, does less and looks silly. I am stating that we have the same issues here, and the sidewalks are not at all standardized. The solution is not some massive societal upheaval and rebuilding of all infrastructure, but to just don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The engineers in this case used more material, more complex forms, more design work to do a worse job. There is no more risk to the public unless you have some info I don't. Hell whats the risk of having sidewalks vs not having them (as most american places I have seen just don't have them at all)? What is so different in the us then Canada that a small strip of grass after the curb makes such a difference? This seems like more of that terrible american exceptionalism that bleeds over here.
Put the sidewalks in, don't overthink it unless you have the budget. That is all I am saying.