The Geometry of Walking Paths

Why do people ignore sidewalks? That shortcut is a desire path—an unplanned trail made

by footsteps. The rule is simple: people always choose the easiest route.

In open space, the shortest path is always a straight line. Repeat that choice

enough times, and a new path appears. You see them in parks,

on campuses, and parking lots. But in cities, you cannot simply walk through solid

buildings. The shortest route becomes by blocks, not diagonals. This is taxicab

geometry. Paths reveal hidden geometry. Design fights it, but footsteps rewrite

it. So, is that shortcut bad design, or the real