Best route from Old Town Alexandria to Suitland?

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  • March 17, 2019 at 7:13 pm #1097083
    streetsmarts
    Participant

    Agh. Good luck. I used to drive those roads and don’t think they’re bike friendly. There’s an active Oxon hill bike club who may be able to help.

    Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

    March 17, 2019 at 8:23 pm #1097085
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    I don’t know, but I will try to ask the Feds on bikes listserve, as the main employment center there is the federal center.

    (if you just want to ride for the sake of riding, and not because its convenient, you could always ride Old Town to Waterfront in SW DC and then take the metro from there – bikes now allowed on metro at peak, and its reverse commute so not crowded)

    March 18, 2019 at 12:12 am #1097090
    The Five Eight Five
    Participant

    Thanks lordofthemark, I didn’t know there was such a listserve– they’d probably know!

    And you’re right, biking to SW-waterfront and taking metro from there is probably a good option also. Especially with the upcoming metro closures south of Reagan Airport.

    March 18, 2019 at 12:38 pm #1097110
    Zack
    Participant

    I think someone I know commutes that way. I private messaged you his email.

    March 18, 2019 at 2:57 pm #1097040
    creadinger
    Participant

    Hey hey! Another rider in Suitland. Awesome! I commute from Del Ray to Suitland.

    I have long wanted a route that goes across the Wilson Bridge even just for the change of scenery, but really once you get to Oxon Hill, there’s just no where to go. Maryland hasn’t connected it to anything yet. Not anything useful at least. And roads like St Barnabas, 210 and others just are not bikeable on weekdays. When I drive to work I take St Barnabas and even though the speed limit is 35, and there are useless sharrows painted in the right lane it’s effectively a 55mph highway with lots of aggressive drivers.

    My route: I go north to the 14th St Bridge – then go SE along Maine Ave down to Nats Park and cross the Douglass Bridge. From there I go north on Anacostia River Rd to Nicholson St to cut inland. And from there I make my way up the hill to Alabama and Branch, then go down Suitland Rd, up through the graveyard to the Suitland Federal Center.

    It’s a a bit of a haul, the hills in SE are significant and there are parts that are really annoying (Douglass bridge for one), but overall it’s not too bad. I don’t commute daily, but I imagine now with bikes on metro during rush hour you could ride to Navy Yard, or Waterfront and metro outbound in the AM on an empty train to cut off some of the distance and climbing. I have thought about trying that. The reverse commute aspect is pretty nice.

    March 21, 2019 at 12:52 am #1097141
    The Five Eight Five
    Participant

    creadinger, thanks for the thorough route description! Sounds like quite the trek.

    I too am surprised there’s no easy connection once crossing the Wilson Bridge. I laugh when I see the “Bikes may take full lane” signs along St. Barnabas. I don’t feel safe in a CAR on St. Barnabas!

    It does appear biking to Green Line outbound may be the most viable option…

    March 21, 2019 at 6:02 pm #1097172
    creadinger
    Participant

    @The Five Eight Five 189042 wrote:

    It does appear biking to Green Line outbound may be the most viable option…

    If you’re interested in exploring the area east of the Anacostia with a small group of cyclists, I recommend doing the BicycleSpace Hills of Anacostia ride. The led ride goes up or down most of the hills you’d consider getting up to Suitland and it’s a good way to see what it’s like over there. It’s not as scary as everyone seems to think.

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