Well I’m excited. It’s time to get romantic on this, the day for lovers the world over. But how do I link cycling advocacy or active travel to this annual celebration of all things shmushy?

We got a media team together at a mountain top retreat to brainstorm and storyboard ideas. Do we do a blog composed of romantic odes to our two wheeled friends? Or perhaps tales from a tandem, or our date nights on a bike? Then we remembered after spending hours at HQ talking about desire lines, we’d never blogged about it.

‘So tell me about desire lines hombre. Is that something to do with a 1:100 Ordnance Survey map showing routes to erogenous zones?’

Well, good effort but no.

This from Wikipedia: ‘A desire path, also known as desire line is an unplanned small trail formed by erosion caused by human or animal traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or the most easily navigated route between an origin and destination, and the width and severity of its surface erosion are often indicators of the traffic level it receives.’

In other parts of the world they have alternative (much cooler) names, such as game trail, social trail, fishermen trail, destiny path, herd path, cow path, elephant path, buffalo trace, goat track, pig trail, use trail and bootleg track. So take your pick.

‘So what’s the problem? If there’s a destiny path, just use that if you want. If you keep bleating, go use the goat track.’ Fair point. Actually it’s not. Why can’t we design stuff so regualr users are not inconveienced? You know, like how we design things for poeple driving cars? Oh, and another thing; often these desire lines aren’t usable for people with mobility issues, the visually impaired, or people in push chairs or wheelchairs, so how about we legitimise the routes for those folk?

Unsurprisingly, there are loads in Worcester, so here’s a few examples:

Barriers

First up, the desire line around metal barriers. Now as a result of our barrier review the barriers on cycle ways in Worcester are slowly being removed, and where appropriate being replaced with a bollard, but the desire line around them are the best example of their pointlessness, and the fact that as a society we are guilty of designing inconvenience for those choosing active travel, at the same time as trying to increase rates of walking and cycling. It’s a minor inconvenience, but trust me, they have a tednancy to accumulate, resulting in the infrastructure not being used.

Solution: remove the barriers

Desire lines clearly visible around both sides of the barriers

The minor shortcut

Below is a great example where both pedestrians and folk riding bikes have taken the most direct route. Interestingly on bike this removes the dog leg, so reduces braking and / or a risk of wheels slipping out on an icy path.

Solution: legitimise the route and tarmac the desire line.

A desire line showing a straighter and more direct route

The major shortcut

This is the junction between Henwick Road and Hylton Road near the university campus. This is the direct route from university footpaths to the pelican crossing at the top of Hytlon Road, show in blue on the map. Given the alternative designed route, shown in red, this is notably shorter. This is a great example of a desire line that would be challenging to a wheel chair user due to the change in level on the approach to the crossing.

Solution: legitimise the route and tarmac the desire line, including ramp to the crossing level

A desire line to the pelican crossing on Hylton Road

The desire road crossing

Another great example is the crossing point at the bottom of Holywell Hill. People riding bikes along the top of the bund from Sabrina Bridge are instructed to cross at this point and re-join the carriageway, and people travelling down Holywell Hill want to cross to make use of the more attractive path along the bund.

Solution: Install zebra crossing

Holywell Hill / riverside pass desire crossing of Hylton Road

Finally the desire crossing of the Worcester Bridge on the East side of the river. Certainly in the summer it’s common to see people crossing the road in both directions at this point; amazing that we’re happy for residents and visitors to chance crossing a dual carriageway rather than provide a formal crossing point. The designed route for this is a 200m detour. Interestingly the desire line is also part of the widely communicated ‘attractive figure of eight route’ linking Diglis, Sabrina and Kepax Bridges by foot or bike, a minor detail seemingly overlooked by those parroting the phrase (officers, councillors and press). Also interestingly on the approach for those driving there is a warning about swans crossing, but amazingly not people.

I didn’t realise at the time, but both example photos below show people crossing the road at this point.

Solution: Install zebra crossing

Summary

I guess I’d like Councillors and officers from City and County to take a closer look at the needs of people walking and cycling and make some design changes to enable and encourage more people to do that. You know, like is stated in City, County and central government policy documents. Too much to ask? A really easy way to do this is to look where people are already travelling, and legitimise these routes. And yes, I fully expect that in some locations this may appear to be to the detriment or convenience of people driving cars. But lets think bigger picture: if we can create modal shift, that’s fewer people driving cars, which benefits everyone, right? You’re welcome.

Anyone reading this, go and find a desire line, take a photo and send it in, and I’ll add it to the blog. Maybe you’ve already got a favourite.

Oh, and it’s Valentines Day. Make sure you let the people you love know that you love them. Also say something nice to a stranger. All you need is love. And the legitimisation of pig trails.