This is neat. It reminds me of being on college campuses where students have created new paths through grass bypassing sidewalks and paved paths. I always thought the worn paths should be incorporated into the "official" infrastructure somehow.
"...OMA carried out a study to map the “desire lines” of student foot traffic across the campus. These intersecting diagonal paths are maintained inside the Campus Center itself..." - from the project description
One of my favorite buildings!
http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/12...
I've heard this story as well. From this conversation (http://ask.metafilter.com/62599/Where-the-sidewalk-ends) it appears that people have heard that this technique was used on quite a few college campuses. (I wonder how many are actually true.)
The first year they didn't pave. Only after a clear route was created by the students they paved that route.