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I’m not viewing this competition from an aesthetic view, but has Ask.com bettered Google Maps? The latest mapping / directions service offers all the bells and whistles (maybe not the index results), but one-ups the Google giant by offering a “walking distance & time” functionality. Obviously, since some busy roads are not suitable for crossing on foot (e.g. freeways, construction zones, etc) pedestrians are forced to take – often – longer routes. I tested the service with a simple trip from the heart of downtown Seattle to Bellevue. Driving distance and time = 10 miles, 15 mins. Walking distance and time = 23 miles, 7 hours. Interesting. But how accurate and helpful? I know for a fact WA-520 has a pedestrain / cyclist sidewalk, so I question why Ask.com would recommend walking clear around Lake Washington.