“Under the overpass and through the woods, to Erie Basin Beach we go”… that’s pretty much what you would have to do if you followed the route laid out by past planners. But instead of following totally ridiculous, out-of-the-way route, people have created what is known as, ‘A Path Of Desire’ (or desire line). “That’s what we call these types of paths,” Tim Tielman told me. “You can see how worn the grass is there [pointing]… it’s worn because that’s where people choose to walk. Of course they are not going to stray away from the road and follow the stairs that lead down to an isolated bus stop, before heading back out to the road. Instead, they follow the quickest and safest route. These are some of the things that we’re looking at when we attempt to connect the marina with downtown.”
I hope that if this path of desire (or path of least resistance) is ever made into a permanent walking trail that the natural windy path is kept. It would serve as a reminder to future planners that sometimes the design should be obvious, rather than elaborate. And just think about what it’s like to be a biker. No sidewalk and no bike lane. That means that bikers must risk their lives just trying to get to the marina… there are cars coming from all directions when you’re in that street zone.
Once the design problems are straightened out, the old concrete stairs can be rededicated to the skateboarders… they would make for some pretty cool rail-slides. But more on the skateboard plaza updates later.
Support for Buffalo Rising comes from:
Support for Buffalo Rising comes from: