ADVERTISEMENT

City planners spend years designing our communities, mapping out roads, parks, and sidewalks with meticulous care. But let's be honest, sometimes you look around and wonder if anyone actually thought about how real people would use the space. You see those dirt paths cutting across manicured lawns? That's just people voting with their feet, ignoring the carefully laid concrete curves. And don't get us started on ramps seemingly designed by someone who's never pushed a stroller or used a wheelchair! We've gathered 31 hilarious and frustrating examples where urban planning clearly took a wrong turn somewhere between the drawing board and reality.

#1

Cat Path In Action

Cat walking on grass near a brick house corner, highlighting city planners' oversight.

astronemma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Uncle Panda
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With cats, it isn't a desire path, it's a "fixed-that-for-you-pathetic-human" path.

View more commentsArrow down menu

RELATED:
    #2

    Next Level Desire Path

    DIY crosswalk painted on a street with traffic cones, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    colfaxmachine Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    DowntownStevieB
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I so want to do this but with a yellow curb. People near me think it's totally okay to park in a lane of traffic UNDER a traffic light and next to a bus stop.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #4

    They Gave In And Paved The Way People Have Been Using For 40 Years

    Pathway blocked by parked cars, illustrating poor city planning decisions.

    PharthSharth Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #5

    Never Heard Of This Before, But Figured I Had The Perfect One

    Detour sign blocks stairway on hill; unclear city planning decision evident.

    Winter_Following1050 Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Path From A Tram Station To A McDonald's Restaurant. They Even Built Stairs

    City planners overlooked a shortcut path through grass diverging from the sidewalk.

    EcstaticFollowing715 Report

    #7

    Desirepath Regocnition In The Netherlands

    Path curved awkwardly around a speed limit sign and trash can, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    r13z Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Well Worn Wal-Mart Path. Deepest I've Ever Seen

    Uneven dirt path leading to a store, highlighting city planners' oversight.

    Otherwise-Seaweed-76 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #12

    Desire Path Created By A Squirrel We Feed Peanuts To Every Morning

    Path in grass showing city planning oversight, leading to a tree instead of a sidewalk.

    CapeClaw Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Accessibility Ramp At The Resort I’m Staying At In Mexico

    Winding staircase with peculiar railings, showcasing city planners' oversight in design and functionality.

    There are a bunch of other awful ramps around the premises, but this is definitely the worst one.

    Boring_Customer4982 Report

    #15

    Now This Is Awesome, Railway Desire Path

    Uneven stone steps leading through overgrown greenery, showcasing city planners' oversight.

    Abandoned railway through a forest that’s been walked for years.

    AdministrativeBag355 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #16

    The Desire Path Got Paved Out And Shifted Half A Meter To The Left

    Path in a park with misaligned stepping stones showing city planners' oversight.

    mikul444 Report

    #17

    The Bricks Are A Pain In The Feet

    Misguided city planning: paved path alongside a worn dirt trail under a bridge.

    onairmastering Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Teutonic Disaster
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They'll shake your fillings out as well, if you'd be biking along them.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    Been Here 30 Years, I Don't Think The Gate Has Ever Been Used

    City planners created a gate leading to a blocked forest path.

    VonBlitzk Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #22

    Every Waste Can In This Entire Major City's Hospital Is A Lie

    Hand stuck in a poorly designed recycling bin showing city planners' oversight.

    thefreakychild Report

    #23

    Braille Script Instead Of Being Embossed, Is Just Printed In Vande Bharat

    Misaligned seating numbers on public transport, illustrating city planning oversight.

    lemniscaterr Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mreoww
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of the time I found out that the Desmos Graphing Calculator has a braille version. A braille version for an online tool. What are blind people gonna do, read the braille dots on the screen?

    #24

    Does This Count? It's The Path This Cat & The Local Raccoons Take Across My Backyard

    Cat sitting in a patchy grass area near awkwardly placed woodpile, showing urban planning oversight.

    CleverSeedling Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #29

    If Only There Was A Way To Number Apartments So You Can Tell What Floor They Are On

    Elevator panel with mismatched floor numbers, illustrating a city planners oversight problem in building design.

    deep_fried_guineapig Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just remove the last digit, divide by 2, round up, then subtract 1 if the result is between 6 and 2. Simple!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    This Is The Inside Of The Bathroom Door At A Bar In NYC. After Some Cocktails, It Is Impossible To Pick The Right One On The First Try

    A door covered in multiple shiny doorknobs, illustrating a city planning oversight.

    jwstoner86 Report

    #31

    Waiting Room At Pediatric Clinic Has Toys Secured Behind Plexiglass For Display Only - No Actual Toys For The Kids To Play With

    Child in front of a bench too high to see toys, showing city planners’ oversight.

    choirdudematt Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    sturmwesen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then there is my childhood pediatrician with walls of antique toys (wood, paper, tin,...) you got to play with

    View more commentsArrow down menu