Correct width of today’s footpath in N? I think I should do this correctly so the street oesn’ look so cramped or unrealistic…
If you’re talking about a sidewalk, typically they’re 4 foot wide in the US. The parkway separating the sidewalk from the street runs in the 6 to 8 foot range, although it can also be lesser or greater in certain circumstances.
A footpath in the dirt will usually be no wider than 18 inches, if it’s frequently used. If it gets little use, a path will start to grow back over from each side, so these tend to be narrower as the surrounding vegetation attempts to repopulate the path. Such a path can vary from right next to the street to a considerable distance back. It will also tend to vary and noty be as straight a setback from the street as a sidewalk.
Concrete sidewalks vary all over the lot, and are mostly driven by local building codes. A few examples:
- Downtown streets - usually 8 feet or more on major business streets, or as little as 6 feet in older, mostly residential areas.
- Subdivisions - 4 feet, separated from the curb by from zero to 6 feet of ‘planting area.’
- Newer subdivision (where I live) - 42 inches, zero setback.
Dirt paths vary from as much as 6 feet (used by an army of schoolkids or commuters twice a day) to 6 inches (occasional use by a few kids or one adult.) Frequently, they ‘cut the angle’ of a street corner with an empty lot, or connect back alleys across or along backyard fences.
In the country, hiking paths either follow the most scenic route or the path of least resistance.
Hope this helps.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with lots of dirt paths)
The sidewalk in my subdivision 1980’s era Midwestern US, is 5 ft from the curb and is 4 ft wide. The 5 ft wide portion is grass. Urban sidewalks range from 6-10 ft wide and directly abut the street, with no grass between the sidewalk and the street.
Modern urban sidewalks may be wider (15-20 ft). Urban areas built in the 1700’s or early 1800’s might only have a “sidewalk” a couple feet wide.
Dave H.