Google added walking directions to its Google Maps product today. The walking directions ignore one-way streets and Google Maps tries to give pedestrians the most direct and flat route possible. As Google itself acknowledges, the Maps database does not currently have a lot of information about sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, or if a specific street is simply too busy to cross. They are, however, working on improving these aspects of their maps.
Walking directions are available everywhere Google offers driving directions.
Google will only allow users to chose the walking options for routes shorter than 6.2 miles (or 10 kilometers). Because of the limitations in its database, it is calling the walking directions a 'beta' products, but, of course, that doesn't mean much when it comes to Google products.
Currently, Google is the only mapping service that offers walking directions. Ask.com used to offer walking directions, but that feature went away when Ask migrated away from its own mapping platform to Microsoft's Virtual Earth three weeks ago.
While Microsoft's Virtual Earth updated its imagery with another major (14 terabyte) update today, it's routing functions have not seen any updates lately. In terms of overall functionality and user interface design, it is very much on par with Google Maps (and, in terms of its imagery, often much better than Google Maps). However, it never quite achieved the popularity of Google Maps.
The walking directions are currently only available through the web version of Google Maps. As of now, you can not chose them in the iPhone Maps application, though that would obviously be a very useful feature to add and hopefully Apple and Google will do so soon.
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Interesting idea! Something useful and not creepy...good job Google.
Posted by: Emily Williams | July 22, 2008 12:26 PM
Sounds great - now if Apple and Google would get together and enabled iPhone/iTouch for it, and there was ubiquitous wifi in urban areas, then we'd be much safer walking the streets.
I see there is an user effort to put some cycle black and green spots on Google maps as well.
It all bodes well for the handheld, but maybe not for pedestrians looking where they are going rather than at their handheld ;)
Posted by: Jo Booth
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July 22, 2008 12:45 PM
This feature hardly works. I used it to cross the street, and was nearly hit by a car.
Posted by: Rob | July 22, 2008 1:30 PM
Many would like a 'Bike There' feature added to Google Maps to go along with the current 'Drive There' and 'Take Public Transit' and now the new "Walking" options. I'm very happy to see that they've added walking directions, hopefully Bike There will be next.
http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html
You can add your name to the nearly 40,000 other people who have signed the Google Maps 'Bike There' Feature Request Petition.
Posted by: Joel | July 22, 2008 1:42 PM
Just FYI, mappy.com has been offering walking directions for ages, at least in France :).
I guess you meant no american mapping service was offering walking directions :).
Posted by: Clément | July 22, 2008 3:30 PM
very innovative
Posted by: dave | July 23, 2008 12:42 AM
This is good news for many but it will take some more time before it's in usable state.
Posted by: Daniel Schildt
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July 23, 2008 1:54 AM
Google isn't the only player with the walking option, only if you mean the global internet players. SAPO Mapas (http://mapas.sapo.pt) as it for a long time only for Portugal, cos it's an internet portuguese ISP. On the search box click on the "itinerários" tab, get your directions and choose "a pé" (walking in portuguese).
Posted by: Nuno Pereira | July 23, 2008 10:30 AM
Same here in Australia! The Australian mapping site, whereis.com, has been providing Australian’s with walking directions for years. Just select 'Travel by Foot' when you’re getting a directions search. It’s a really useful tool that uses walking and bike trails to calculate the route.
Posted by: Danielle | July 23, 2008 6:06 PM
Or www.walkit.com that covers some of the big cities in the UK. It offers 'less busy' routes as well as direct. It's ace.
Posted by: Vicky | July 24, 2008 2:40 AM
really cool
Posted by: monza | July 24, 2008 3:25 AM