Silver Spring to Cap. Hill sugggestions

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  • October 16, 2014 at 6:55 pm #915994
    TJH
    Participant

    Hello everyone,
    I just joined up and I want to start riding to work. I could use some suggestions (apologize if this has been covered before). I’m coming from SS/Kensington area to 2nd & Independence SE, near the Capital South metro stop. I’ve got part of it down with the CCT, but not sure what to do after that. I tried this once on a Sunday, Independence Ave from Ohio, across Kutz Bridge on to final destination was easy, but this was Sunday, so I think it would be too vehicle-laden on weekdays. The hardest part was return trip across the Mall.
    Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks
    TJH

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  • October 16, 2014 at 7:22 pm #1012416
    Terpfan
    Participant

    I doubt this is the fastest route, but if it were me, I would probably just take Beach Drive down to the Rock Creek Park Trail and then cut over to 15th St at some point (interestingly Google suggests via Sherill to Aspen to 14th then cut over to 15th, but that’s a steep hill out of RCP, although most are) and I would just take that clear down to the PA Ave Cycletrack and then cut over to Independence where you feel it’s best to get to the job although going to the end of PA track through to the circle past pond and then to other circle in front of Capitol and back down MD Ave may be easier.

    If I did the CCT route, I would probably either continue down along Ohio Drive over to the Case St Bridge then use that to cut over to L’Enfant and go from there or I would cut over to L St by Georgetown and take that cycletrack.

    But I’m no expert on this route as I’ve only ridden out that way a handful of times. Some regular on here who does it frequently should be able to give you better guidance. (It would differ some I would think depending upon where in Kensington/SS area you’re talking about too).

    October 21, 2014 at 8:55 pm #1012727
    Randyp
    Participant

    I used to do the same commute. I tried the following routes, and settled on #3. Caveat: I moved a little eastward several years ago, and now commute to Capitol Hill from the Holy Cross Hospital area, going down Sligo Creek Parkway to the MBT, so I’m not familiar with any recent changes that may affect these routes, but I think I’d probably opt for #5 now due to the improvements to the MBT in recent years:

    (1) Capital Crescent Trail – nice, but goes a bit out of the way for getting to downtown DC and can be crowded;

    (2) Rock Creek Park: the roads are narrow, busy with cars, and the surfaces are crap; the path is calm but slow (lots of sharp turns);

    (3) straight down 16th (taking to the west-side sidewalk after Eastern Ave) to Decatur Ave left on Decatur > right on 14th to the Mall, then east to Capitol Hill: not many intersections going down 16th, due to Rock Creek Park on the right, but lots of driveways, a narrow sidewalk, and bus stops with passengers waiting make the morning ride exciting along there;

    (4) straight down GA Ave/7th Ave to the Mall – carefully, on the sidewalk until south of downtown Silver Spring; after that, the road is wider and traffic is slower than on 16th.

    (5) Down GA Ave to downtown SS, then over to Fenton and follow the Met Branch Trail to Union Station, then over to Capitol Hill.

    October 25, 2014 at 1:46 pm #1013050
    TJH
    Participant

    Thanks all, I appreciate the help.

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