def join_uri_paths(prefix, suffix):
    """
    Returns the uinion of two URI path strings without creating a double '/'
    between them.

    \param    prefix    The left side of the path,
    \param    suffix    The sub-path,
    \return             Combination of the two strings sans '//' in the middle.
    """

    prefix_end = -1 if prefix.endswith('/') else None
    suffix_start = 1 if suffix.startswith('/') else 0
    return prefix[:prefix_end] + '/' + suffix[suffix_start:]