Comments on: Raleigh’s “Pathways of Desire”

By: RonB

RonB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:44:42 +0000

The one pictured near State Street/DMV is due to no sidewalks. Of course the DMV wants everyone to drive everywhere, so this isn’t a surpise.

The “paths around no tresspassing signs” is landed owned by a former mayor and is now owned by the Raleigh Rescue Mission. They wanted to turn the site into a dorm/church/clinic/whatever years ago, but Oakwood shut them down. They seem content to leave the land empty.

The “path behind the building” is on East Martin on land owned by the City of Raleigh. The city has been assembling parcels for years. Vocal memebers of “the community” (but not the *neighborhood*) have squashed redevlopment in the area for years.

By: Curt

Curt — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:12:38 +0000

I use these on the IUPUI campus in Indy all the time. A courtyard that has some sidewalks that go at right angles to each other are largely bypassed by trails of desire. I often wonder if universities recognize these and plan on adding future walks instead of letting them turn into mudholes.

By: Spatula

Spatula — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:08:51 +0000

There’s a pretty important one in the grass right by the DH Hill Library, at NCSU.

By: John Morris

John Morris — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:34:34 +0000

Gomek – I am frequently in that area and I can’t immediately place it. thanks for the tip!

dwight – You are correct in that many cross private property. In the map, I didn’t mark places that were in someone’s backyard or occupied property. It was also easier to find in Southeast Raleigh because there are fewer trees there, which results in less foliage on the ground to cover them up.

By: dwight

dwight — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:35:50 +0000

Very nice. I can confirm the path over near Lee Hall at NCSU crossing the train tracks.

Some of the paths look like they exist not because of lack of funding for proper facilities, but because they cross private property and are illegal.

There a lots of these I run across in the woods, hard to find from aerial photography. I never gave them much thought before.

By: Gomek

Gomek — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:09:16 +0000

Looking for more?

There’s one between East Park Drive and West Park Drive in Cameron Park. Effectively, it “connects the dots” between where Benehan St. and College Place terminate.

It’s somewhat clear on Google Maps, but very clear from the ground. :)