Google Maps now offering walking directions

Google Walking

I like the idea, although so far the execution is somewhat spotty. I'm curious about the algorithm they're using. Based on a few routes I see, it appears that they're looking for shortest distance, thus allowing things via walking like going the "wrong way" on a one-way road that you can't do by car. However, some of the routes they suggest are actually rather pedestrian-hostile in the real world.

It would be much more useful if they could factor in true walkability issues such as streetscape, separation between pedestrians and traffic, whether intersections are crossable, and so on. Maybe they could partner with Walk Score.

Sharon Machlis of Computerworld and pedestrianfriendly.com :)

A fast SUV

I checked my walk from home to the center of town. There's a lovely side road that I take that winds past some old houses, lots of trees and flowers, and includes a bit of a hill for your aerobic pleasure. The occasional vehicle on this road would likely be doing about 20 mph. Did Google have me on it? Nope. It recommended a parallel road where average speed is about 40 mph, with no sidewalks, curbs or room for anything extra if a wide vehicle came by. Is Run Off the Road the new Pilates?

Two good resources

Hi Ken -- yeah, Walk Score (a Seattle-based firm!) is terrific; I've recommended it in particular to anyone planning a move. (Would love to hear if they're planning any tagging ability, so those of us who live in these neighborhoods can comment on or augment the maps. You're gonna do a followup blog post on this, right? Right? :-) )

And the new Google functionality is sweet, especially for beta. I'm hoping the 6.2-mile limit is simply some sort of beta limit, in fact. For now, testing it on a few tricky local treks, I like what I've seen. But the example you show above does raise one question, which also might be solvable by tagging -- not only does the system not know about pedestrian-only paths, obviously it doesn't realize that one of those Framingham roads it gave you HAS NO SIDEWALKS. Nevermind "use caution in unfamiliar areas" -- the warning on *those* directions ought to say ACK ACK ACK YOU'RE GONNA GET RUN OVER BY AN SUV!!!