New job new commute

Van Dorn South is pretty ugly by bike, but if you look at Google Maps and click Directions and Bike you get a pretty good idea of what solves your problem. Crossing the Beltway is the biggest problem. There appears to be a pedestrian route from Oakwood Road that goes under the beltway next to Van Dorn and connects up with Eisenhower Ave. I ride “The Ike” pretty regularly in my routes around town. It is generally wide enough for riding and even has an off-road path for part of it (which I never use). From Eisenhower, I’d weave up through Alexandria (Basically following Google’s suggested route) to Mount Vernon Avenue. Take that North to the 4-mile run trail, and then to Eads street. That leads you into Crystal City and an easy jog into the Pentagon.

While not perfect, it does give you a basis from which you can view, review and explore to get a good commuting route. A lot depends on how you feel riding roads. None of the routes are low traffic, but most are okay for cycling.

Explore and enjoy: Google Maps Route

Consider riding Van Dorn onto Eisenhower to Commonwealth to the GW Parkway. This will get you to the North Parking at the Pentagon. It is not the most direct route but scenic at points and less traffic.

That underpass under the Beltway off of Oakwood is do-able, but I’d try it during daylight hours at first. It’s a little sketchy, and rough riding in a couple of spots. Good luck!

@Dirt 10655 wrote:

I kinda figured that they’d tagged me. I can feel the Lojack when I sit.

But does it require a warrant?

Sperm bike.

Sorry. Had to be said.

@Jsnyd 10681 wrote:

I’ll be living inside the beltway near Seminary road. Sorry I should have been more specific. Ive studied the google maps routes and seem pretty straight forward. I just hope it doesn’t direct me to a road of death.

That gets even easier. Howard St. to Braddock to Beauregard (becomes Walter Reed) to 4-mile Run Trail. That goes all the way to the MVT and then into the Pentagon.

Again: Not sure of your starting point, so I guessed. I take Holmes Run trail into Alexandria sometimes and then need to make my way North from there into the city. The route I mapped is one I’ve used a lot. Beauregard isn’t the best in the world, but I haven’t had trouble with it. It is better than the Van Dorn ride that The Google suggests. This winds around a little, but is generally worth an exploration.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/819128

There’s a lot of new trail routing at the end of the route linked above. What google has no longer reflects reality. Reality is, I think, much better.

As usual, I suggest exploring your bike commutes before actually making them. This can be done by car or by bike at a non-peak traffic time. Sunday mornings are lovely times to explore where you need to go and how you need to get there.