bike on bus adventure

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  • July 15, 2012 at 8:27 pm #911733
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    so, I’m a semi newbie (back to biking after not biking at all for a couple of years, and only an occasional casual recreational rider then) who has been doing a ride or two more weekends than not for a couple of months now. I aspire to commute by bike, and from where I live now that means putting the bike on the express bus (and using the bike to avoid a circuitous metro trip) But I’d never done the bike on the bus thing before today.

    I rode to the end of the line of the 16b here in annandale (wanted to do it first at the end of the line in case it took awhile to get the hang of it. I had looked at youtube videos on how, and I’ve seen people put their bikes on at Pentagon Metro) The 16B only runs once an hour on Sundays, and I got there VERY early (took the hills on Americana faster than usual – I must be getting better). Took me two tries to get the rack down – then putting the bike on was not hard. Hardest part was trusting the tension thingie to hold the bike. This was the 9:22 bus, I wanted to get started early in case of PM storms.

    50 minutes to Pentagon (16B is not terribly rapid transit) Went to the 9-11 memorial, which I had never visited, despite passing through Pentagon station thousands of times. Asked two cyclists there the way to the MVT – they said I should just follow them, so I did (both were ex military, and former bike racers of some kinds, but were fine with going slowly – I think they had already had long rides).

    We separated at the entrance to MVT at Lady Bird Johnson grove/marina. I had meant to go south to Old Town, but somehow found myself NB (no signage at that point – also BTW no bike oriented signage on Pentagon reservation) Rather than double back, I decided to go to Rosslyn instead. I’m not sure if it was today’s heat, my being in poor shape, or the old mountain bike, but by the time I got to Rosslyn I was sweaty and ready for a break. I found an artsy looking bike rack catty corner from a Cosi, locked up, and relaxed with a diet soda.

    Decided to take the Key Bridge into DC and find my way to the 14th street bridge (which will be important to know when I start bike commuting) Decided to take the canal tow path, but by mistake took southern path (it looked wider) – which ends quickly. Took streets to next place down to north side tow path (down steps by Georgetown Park) Then to Rock Creek to Lincoln Mem to Independence to 14th st bridge. Got slightly lost at Pentagon reservation till I figured out the way back around to the station. Only ten minutes before 16B scheduled to leave.

    This time got the bike on the bus quickly. On the way back I did not go to the end of the line because I wanted to take the bike to the local shop for some things. Since this was not the end, I wanted to get the bike off fast to not delay the bus. I did very quickly, and I think the driver appreciated that, as he waved.

    All in all I found it a very good way to get to from Annandale to the prime trails without having to deal with our car (which my wife has out of town this weekend anyway).

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  • July 15, 2012 at 8:42 pm #945830
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    Great post, and I agree with your suggestions as to where signage is needed. There are stickys under the topic heading for Trail Conditions that show who is responsible for which trails (other than Pentagon area). That might be a good start for passing along information on where better signage is needed. Thanks for sharing your experiences and the great write up! I’ll check out that bus route.

    July 15, 2012 at 9:48 pm #945831
    KLizotte
    Participant

    That is quite a ride on an MTB on such a hot and humid day. It’s the humidity that gets ya and there isn’t much shade along the routes you took.

    If you post where you are trying to go from the Pentagon I’m sure the folks here can tell you an optimal route or two. There are a few shortcuts here and there that we know of that can save you the hassle of busy streets, awkward intersections, etc. I can also show you them in person on a weekend if needed.

    Would be nice if you could find a carpool (that takes your bike) to the Pentagon given the HOV lanes; may be faster than the bus.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:15 am #945835
    ShawnoftheDread
    Participant

    @KLizotte 25283 wrote:

    That is quite a ride on an MTB on such a hot and humid day. It’s the humidity that gets ya and there isn’t much shade along the routes you took.

    If you post where you are trying to go from the Pentagon I’m sure the folks here can tell you an optimal route or two. There are a few shortcuts here and there that we know of that can save you the hassle of busy streets, awkward intersections, etc. I can also show you them in person on a weekend if needed.

    Would be nice if you could find a carpool (that takes your bike) to the Pentagon given the HOV lanes; may be faster than the bus.

    The weekday express busses are actually very quick from Annandale to the Pentagon, and they come fairly regularly.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:32 am #945836
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    @ShawnoftheDread 25287 wrote:

    The weekday express busses are actually very quick from Annandale to the Pentagon, and they come fairly regularly.

    yup when I actually start bike commuting it will be on the 29G and/or the 29H. I don’t want to try for the first time on a workday. Sunday at the start point of the 16B is kind of mellow (though I suspect some of my fellow passengers were headed into their work)

    The 16B can have other cycling uses – going to the WO&D/4MR at Columbia Pike without having to bike up Col Pike from Annandale.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:45 am #945838
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    for my commute (when I try it, hopefully before next bike to work day) I will be going to M street and NJ avenue SE. I have a friend at work who is a bike commuter, and says he will show me the alternatives from 14th street Bridge to our workplace. Pentagon station to the 14th street bridge if there is a better way than I found (the same way that Google maps shows from Pentagon station to Jefferson Memorial – IE around the Pentagon along “Connector road” north to bridge to Ladybird Johnson grove, then back south on MVT to bridge, that would be nice.

    For recreational trips to Old Town I think it would be better to skip the Pentagon, take the local bus to Col Pike and 4MR and take 4MR east to MVT (or take the bike on the 29K bus all the way to Old Town, or wherever in West Alex I want to start biking from)

    I suspect my biking life will be much improved after I get a road bike.

    July 16, 2012 at 1:17 pm #945859
    dasgeh
    Participant

    Another option (that doesn’t sound like it will help you for work, but for fun) is to take the 16 buses up Columbia Pike to S Courthouse Road.* Hop off with your bike, and take Courthouse north 2nd Street S. Turn right and ride onto Fort Myer. If you’re military or a federal employee, show your badge and they waive you through. If you’re not, show your license, they write down some stuff, then waive you through. From there, you can use the quiet roads on the base to get the Arlington National Cemetery – which you can ride through to get to the Memorial Bridge – or to the gate by the Iwa Jima – a great way to get to Rosslyn – or to Southgate Road, which will take you to Pentagon City/Pentagon (less helpful, since you could have just stayed on the bus).

    It’s a bummer that you can’t get from Annandale up to FMR/W&OD etc on your bike. But the Arlington bus network is pretty good.

    *You can cut some hills and some traffic by taking any road that connects Columbia Pike to 2nd.

    July 16, 2012 at 11:24 pm #945945
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    @dasgeh 25316 wrote:

    It’s a bummer that you can’t get from Annandale up to FMR/W&OD etc on your bike. But the Arlington bus network is pretty good.

    I can, it just is going to take a long time (best access would be north to W&OD near Falls Church) Thanks for the Ft. Myers tip.

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