And this is why desire paths shouldn't be ignored or seen as a vandalism, but be integrated into the process of citiplaning. Sometimes there are no paths connecting individual walkways. Or sometimes these paths exist, but they are in wrong spots that are hardly ever used. But desire paths exist BECAUSE they are used. If there is enough foot traffic that the grass doesn't grow there anymore, that trees and bushes branch around, that the brick edge of the road gets misshaped, then the city should step up and pave it up already, because people have spoken.
This urban design needs to be dine in the interests of the people it serves not just what looks pretty, Desire paths are proof that democracy does and should exist in the design of our urban environments
