Best route: Mount Pleasant to Stadium Armoy-Best route with kids in trailer?

[Brendan von Buckingham]

I’m a 20 year commuter (never with a kid trailer) and bike between LeDroit Park, Capitol Hill and Southwest frequently for work. Take that into consideration.

Mt. P to Cap Hill with a trailer and kids is a challenge. I can’t think of a route that eliminates all problems. The most direct routes (Florida Ave, New Jersey Ave) are more highway than street, and there are several barriers (railroad tracks, New York Ave) to get across.

I like K Street NE as an east-west route between North Cap and Gallaudet. Going under the rr tracks takes some getting used to, but east of that K is wide and traffic is light.

I like 1st Street NW as the north-south route from Downtown to LeDroit Park. Traffic is light and have the easiest crossings over Rhode Island, Florida and New York. First Street NW between K and NY Ave takes you along Sursum Corda which some people might be uncomfortable with, but I’ve never had a problem during daylight. First St NW avoids New Jersey Ave where the drivers are breakneck and mean.

Zig-zag through LeDroit, which has easy neighborhood streets, and get to 4th to get you to the bike lane on 5th that runs on the west shore of McMillan Reservoir. The shortcoming is at the end of this bike lane. There’s no comfortable way to get on a west bound street above Harvard. Maybe someone else on the forum has a solution at this spot.

[jrenaut]

What about up 16th on the sidewalk, right on Monroe, right on 14th, then right to V. Left on 15th and you can take the 15th St cycletrack to PA Ave, take that all the way to the Capitol (and here is where I don’t know more than what Google Maps says), meander through the Capitol parking lots, and then East Capitol claims to have bike lanes.

[Terpfan]

@jrenaut 28764 wrote:

What about up 16th on the sidewalk, right on Monroe, right on 14th, then right to V. Left on 15th and you can take the 15th St cycletrack to PA Ave, take that all the way to the Capitol (and here is where I don’t know more than what Google Maps says), meander through the Capitol parking lots, and then East Capitol claims to have bike lanes.

That’s probably the safest route, although it will take a little longer. I have done the ride from around Metro Ctr up to near Walter Reed a few times and back and the cycletrack is no problems. 14th St is a little more annoying because of people double-parking, buses, and cabs to the bike lane, but really not too bad. The only downside is this will take a little longer than the other route. Definitely safest though.

[Riley Casey]

How much time do you have thus far in trailer practice? I have never used one myself but I have conceptual misgivings about going down any of the major hills that are 16th thru 13th Sts with that kind of ultra valuable weight behind me. Probably just wimpiness on my part. I like the concept of staying off commuter routes entirely though. Might it be worth zig zagging your way west on Park over to Mt Pleasent then to Ontario Rd and then to 17th and down to U St and finally left to the cycletrack. Certainly sounds like a good week end project to bike a few alternatives with an empty trailer before trying it with the kids in tow.

It really warms my heart to see your post. This sort of thing is cycling in a way that weekend road racing in spandex on carbon fiber will never be.

[jrenaut]

I take kids in the trailer down 14th pretty regularly, though I wouldn’t do it without sitting right in the middle of the right lane (which I do there with or without the kids). 11th has a nice bike lane that unfortunately ends at Florida, leaving a few blocks where any cars would have no choice but to wait behind you. 11th is definitely my choice for going UP the hill with the trailer.

I used 17th a lot last year and never felt that comfortable – cyclists behave worse on that street than city-average, it seems, and as a result cars aren’t too friendly.

[americancyclo]

@jrenaut 28764 wrote:

Capitol (and here is where I don’t know more than what Google Maps says), meander through the Capitol parking lots, and then East Capitol claims to have bike lanes.

Be careful of bollard spacing if you take a trailer up the hills around the capitol. once you get on east capitol though, it’s pretty easy living.

[pkeneedyrea]

I really appreciate your input. A fellow parent at the school who is a regular commuter along that route has recommended 15th to Penn to East Capitol. It’s by far not the most direct, but has fewest turns and best bike lanes. I have to test it out for sure with the trailer and some kind of non-child payload first (: I will definitely utilize the tips on the initial getting to 15th, so thanks.

As an aside, I have spent a year driving the boys across the city home from school, thinking “oh it’s just too far to do anything else.” A creature of habit, I am not that great with change. But I do appreciate the community here supporting my idea and helping me make it happen.

Thanks,
Parker

[jrenaut]

A note about 15th to PA Ave – you’ll probably need to use the sidewalk when you enter the White House security perimeter – the bollards on the road are not actually wide enough for my 2 person trailer. The ones on the sidewalk and at either end of PA Ave are wide enough, though just barely.

[dasgeh]

@pkeneedyrea 28790 wrote:

As an aside, I have spent a year driving the boys across the city home from school, thinking “oh it’s just too far to do anything else.” A creature of habit, I am not that great with change. But I do appreciate the community here supporting my idea and helping me make it happen.

As a mom of a toddler, who hopes to continue biking with kids, I appreciate that you’re living the dream!

If you’re inclined to come out to Arlington, we’re planning a family bike show-and-tell (stealing Kidical Mass DC’s idea) to go along with the Arlington Fun Ride on October 6, 2012. Stay tuned…

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