Bike parking near Ballston

[KS1G]

Specifically NE corner of Wilson Blvd and N Glebe. 4301 Wilson. I have a training class there later this month. And my boss joked if I was going to ride there (she should know better by now)….

I’m going to call the location this week to see if they know anything, but I’d appreciate suggestions from the NoVA/Arlington commuters of nearby locations with reasonably secure parking. Metro station and the mall are all close enough, although I question how “secure” the metro station is. I have a heavy-duty U-lock and heavy cable combo (I usually loop cable through front wheel, frame, and the rack, and use the U-lock for the rear wheel, frame, and cable. I think this is the method described on Sheldon Brown’s site). But I’m spoiled now (low traffic isolated suburban office park – no one comes through generally without a reason to be there- with good surveillance). I’ve not had to leave my bike in a wide-open urban environment unattended for years. Lights & tools are easily pulled off, so at I won’t have to worry about those bits going walkabout.

Getting there & back is not a problem – it looks like I can exit the Custis trail at N Fairfax Dr. Distance is a bit more than what I normally do (20 miles 1-way vs 12), but I can take a bus from Reston to West Falls Church if I think I need the assist (or off Gallows Rd to Ballston – thank you wmata.com trip planner!). Of course it’ll be dark when I leave home, but that’s what all my lights are for. I’m hoping to have time to ride down there (or gasp! drive) beforehand but the way the month is filling up, that’s doubtful.

Topic

[StopMeansStop]

Plenty of street signs you can secure your bike

[elcee]

I think Ballston Mall has a bike rack on the Glebe Rd exit, just past the cashier booths. It’s not quite indoors but not quite outside either.

You might want to check whether any of the parking garages have bike racks. The Metro station has racks, but they’re usually full, and also quite exposed.

[eminva]

My bike was stolen three years ago from the racks at the Ballston metro station. It was a mid-range hybrid, nothing fancy. It looked, from the broken locks scattered around that afternoon, that quite a few bikes were liberated that day. Right in front of the taxi stand for the hotel there — so much for witnesses. If you are going to leave it there for an extended time, I would either ride a bike less attractive to thieves or give a lot of thought to your locks.

As another poster said, inside a garage would be great. Is there a parking garage where you are going for training? Might they have a bike cage inside that you could get temporary access to?

Liz

[Arlingtonrider]

I’ve often wished that commercial parking garages also offered secure bike parking. There are certain places where I’d be willing to pay a reasonable amount for that. Maybe someday. . .

[KS1G]

Thanks for the tips.

elcee – I’m going to see what I can find out about that mall parking you mentioned.
eminva – sorry about your bike, and that’s a reason I’m trying to avoid using the metro station. And the place I’m going has no parking, at least for the training classes – they advise metro or use the mall garage.

[americancyclo]

@elcee 8954 wrote:

I think Ballston Mall has a bike rack on the Glebe Rd exit, just past the cashier booths. It’s not quite indoors but not quite outside either.

I thought this too, but I just called and the woman who answered said there were no bike racks. weird
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/traffic/parking/EnvironmentalServicesBallston.aspx

[Tim Kelley]

@americancyclo 9003 wrote:

I thought this too, but I just called and the woman who answered said there were no bike racks. weird
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/traffic/parking/EnvironmentalServicesBallston.aspx

Ballston Mall Bike Racks: Google Street View

[americancyclo]

I was thinking there were some inside the Ballston Public Parking Garage to offer a bit more protection.

[mstone]

I sent a PM with detailed notes, but I’ll say that I’ve seen quite a few racks attached to various buildings in the area. E.g., here’s one that’s under a roof that always seems to have bikes parked in it: http://g.co/maps/7pdhz

[Author]

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