Google Operating System reports that Google Maps is testing out walking directions in some locations. I was personally not able to replicate the walking directions, but Ionut has a screen capture as proof.

We all know Ask.com had walking directions, but when Ask.com killed off their maps product, they also killed off the walking directions. Neither Yahoo or Microsoft Live Search currently offer walking directions.

There is a Google Groups thread discussing a possible walking directions feature, but that was all pure speculation.

I suspect there is a limited set of users included in the beta walking directions. If you are able to see walking directions for a search between 200 Madison and 200 Lexington, then you are included in the beta group.

Related Topics: Google: Maps & Local

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz