Google maps now offers walking directions.

In another giant step for walkability mapping this month, Google has launched walking directions for Google Maps. The walking directions allow your path to go either direction on a one-way street, just like you would walk, and they also include many off-street paths. Playing around with it, it did send me through Millennium Park on a path through downtown, and it allowed me to choose a route through Lincoln Park. It is still in beta though, which is apparent by some silly suggested paths, by missing underpasses under LSD on the lakefront trail, and by how it doesn't always use off-streets paths to create a shorter route. All in good time...

Here's one of my favorite walks: Belmont Red Line stop to Diversey Harbor point. This one is missing the peat gravel path that goes directly to the lake from the LSD underpass, and it's funny that it doesn't let you walk in the grass, but it's great nonetheless to see my beloved walk accepted into the mainstream web.