Google Maps - Pedestrian Version

How long does it take to walk from Kensington Market to St.Lawrence Market?

39 minutes, according to Google Maps new Beta "Walking" feature.

Finally, there's a reasonable way to estimate strolling times in the city. This should be a welcome Google Maps feature for the many people who prefer to use their feet over driving, cycling, and TTCing. It'll be especially useful for tourists who aren't familiar with the city.

Of course, people walk at different speeds, traffic signals can vary, sidewalk closures for construction won't be taken into account, and a lot of options for alternative routes will make walk times (and scenery, safety, etc.) variable.

I played around with it a bit this morning, and both calculated short and long walks seem to be accurate enough for my liking. This should come in handy from time to time. Much like (shameless plug) the blogTO neighbourhood maps do.