Which term describes unofficial shortcuts created by repeated foot traffic?

• A. Permeable pavement
• B. Desire paths
• C. Modular pavement
• D. Braess's Paradox

Answer: (B)

When people repeatedly choose the quickest route, informal shortcuts emerge as worn paths. These are called desire paths, a term used in urban design and geography to describe unofficial trails formed by repeated foot traffic. They show how actual usage can shape the landscape much more than planned sidewalks, like a diagonal track across a lawn or open ground between buildings. Permeable pavement refers to surfaces that let water pass through for drainage, modular pavement is about using interchangeable units in construction, and Braess's Paradox is a network theory idea where adding capacity can slow overall traffic due to route choices. The idea of desire paths best captures the concept of unofficial shortcuts created by repeated foot traffic.