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Sheffield’s a creative place, what with its designers, filmmakers, spoon makers and all. But this is something else. This is all the times you’ve said what the fuck is this? Who thinks I’m going to walk another 10 metres just to turn back on myself?
Sometimes known as desire paths, the lines in the landscape formed through many people taking the shortest route, these markings could be a poetic statement, a line in the sand dutifully photographed in order to become a trite coffee shop/flickr image. But they are most interesting when they highlight the complete ineptitude of planners to understand how people might actually act. The photo above is a classic in this respect.
They were thinking, we need to slow people down so they don’t run in front of a tram. Let’s put one of those double gate things. Next to an open field. And still, people walk through it.
Thanks to the wonder of google street view we can now bring you some more of our favourites in Sheffield. If you can think of a more banal use of technology I’d like to hear it.
Behind the University Arts Tower: When i go to Sainsbury’s to buy my fruit pastilles, I want to get there as fast as possible. This is literally a life saver.
Charter Square: This one’s confusing, as the path only leads to a mysterious underpass. I’m scared.
Decathlon:
