Desire path

Trail or path is a name for a narrow footpath without many branches. The word " trail " is formed from " trampling " (gain of contact ) and " path " ( walk). Trails due to frequent committing the same distances in rough area by humans or animals, and are the most primitive type of ways. A path is sometimes difficult to identify in the field and can of people usually only after another being committed.

Trails represent a path optimization, thus following a need. At the formation of a beaten track usually a variety of people or animals is involved. Trails form around a shortcut, a more convenient or the only way to go around obstacles. In landscaped environments such as urban green spaces are typically undesirable, but are formed anyway, even without the consent or against the intentions of the owners.

Sayings

Sayings about path suggests that this often is tedious to commit ( enter narrow paths to explore that new territory or walk in the path of virtue, that is to go through life without blemish or sin ). Follow crooked paths means as much as unjust practices to consider. Who, however, goes on well-trodden paths, risking no innovations, and behaves largely pragmatic. In the increase are mental trails for particularly stubborn, unimaginative, in retracted thinking.

Characteristics

Since the first studies on the foot traffic in the 1960s, it is clear that the seemingly " chaotic " movement of pedestrians is subject to certain regularities. This applies in particular for pedestrians, who have a specific destination. To achieve this, pedestrians normally choose the shortest route. The reluctance of foot traffic to walk detours is very large, even if one is slow on the direct route. If the existing ways unfavorable run, so major detours would be taken into account, built on the direct route unplanned way systems, the beaten track. These possess some characteristic properties:

• Intersection of three ways: The trails nestle together, ie they do not run straight, but curved at the junctions or branches.
• Junction of four ways: to Intersect two ways to keep their ( straight ) in the course.
• More frequented trails are wider than less frequented.
• If a trail is impassable ( through a barrier, etc.), parallel forms to a new one.

Landscape Architecture

Trails can be deliberately used as a design tool, among other things, an efficient routing to create. An example was created on the campus of the University of Oregon (Eugene ), where the late sixties students fought for participation in the transformation of the university. The university administration hired the Viennese architect Christopher Alexander. According to his plan, the site was leveled between the university buildings and sown with grass. The resulting trails after months was converted to paved roads ( " Desire Lines ").

In terms of path optimization trails often represent a better solution, as planned by the architect. In some cases based landscape architect existing trails into their plans. Also plans are known in which entirely purposeful ways (eg, between houses of a settlement ) waived and the emergence of beaten paths was awaited. Then later fixed routes have been set up on the lines of these trails. They reached such an "automatic " route optimization, avoiding the formation of additional dirt tracks, the vegetation and appearance of the plant would be damaged.