Anacostia Trail for Commuting

[Judd]

@etobey 190510 wrote:

I’m planning to bike into DC for Bike to Work Day using the Anacostia River Trail and Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. In your experience, are these trails well-traveled during commuting hours, and are they safe? I am a single woman and plan to bike on my own unless I can find a biking buddy to go with me.

Glad that you’re biking to work. That’s awesome and the Anacostia River Trail is wonderful. No personal experience during commuting hours but Sarah Bee used to commute on the ART when she lived in Riverdale (Hope she sees this post). I’ve mostly biked it on weekends and haven’t seen any problems except for the occasional deer jumping out on to the trail. I’m a 6’3″ dude though, so our perceptions of safe or what’s comfortable might differ.

[LhasaCM]

Also of potential interest depending on your starting point and destination (and timing): there is a convoy that goes from Greenbelt to downtown DC with a few other Maryland stops. It looks like it uses the NE branch trail for a little section, but then cuts over to the MBT just south of Hyattsville. That’s #6 at http://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/first-time-rider-info/4606-2 (The same link has a different convoy that goes from Hyattsville to downtown – that’s #5)

[SarahBee]

@Judd 190521 wrote:

Glad that you’re biking to work. That’s awesome and the Anacostia River Trail is wonderful. No personal experience during commuting hours but Sarah Bee used to commute on the ART when she lived in Riverdale (Hope she sees this post). I’ve mostly biked it on weekends and haven’t seen any problems except for the occasional deer jumping out on to the trail. I’m a 6’3″ dude though, so our perceptions of safe or what’s comfortable might differ.

Etobey- glad you are biking to work. This trail system is an absolute delight. Early in the morning and at dusk are very safe times to bike this. I’ve done it late at night by myself and though I felt safe, it is very dark (no lights), lots of critters abound, and damp boardwalks can be slippery, making it a more challenging night commute. For night riding by yourself or winter commuting, I have an alternate road/MBT route I can recommend. Also, Rumi and Christy in Hyattsville regularly commute this route together into DC & back. Would recommend connecting with them if you are looking for a commute buddy. Hope this helps & enjoy this lovely piece of infrastructure!

[Author]

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