Bike routes through Stanton Park

[ColumbiaHeights]

I’m curious to know what specific routes people ride (transportation-wise) that involve going through or near the Stanton Park square in NE. A map or street names would be great. Any hairy intersections or stretches that you try to avoid? Thanks.

Topic

[DaveK]

I ride through there all the time, I’ve never felt in danger from any of those intersections. Usually I ride from my house to go NW, so I ride west down A St NE to 6th St NE, take 6th St north and go left around the square. Occasionally I’ll be on Mass Ave heading NW and just go around the circle that way. Same goes for the opposite way (4th St southbound instead of 6th St). Like I said I’ve never felt uncomfortable riding around that park. The only occasionally interesting merge is from south/east bound Mass Ave to go around Stanton Park – you need to make sure you’re in a position to be in one of the inside two lanes after you turn right from Mass Ave.

If you’re not up to riding with traffic around the park you could always hop off at a corner and wait for the signals to let you go into the park.

Is there a specific direction you’re trying to go?

[ColumbiaHeights]

Thanks Dave. Generally I’m looking to connect from Chinatown area to Stanton Park area. It appears that there are few good east-west connections between NW and NE DC. From Chinatown, it looks like E St NW to Mass Ave is the best bet. During off-peak hours, when on-street parking is allowed on Mass Ave, I’d feel comfortable riding between the parked cars and the dashed white line; almost like having a bike lane. During peak hours, however, I imagine it’s hairy with the added car lanes.

By any chance, are there any cut through connections along C St or D St near 1st Ave, or some other way to bypass Mass Ave? Thanks!

[DaveK]

@ColumbiaHeights 42957 wrote:

Thanks Dave. Generally I’m looking to connect from Chinatown area to Stanton Park area. It appears that there are few good east-west connections between NW and NE DC. From Chinatown, it looks like E St NW to Mass Ave is the best bet. During off-peak hours, when on-street parking is allowed on Mass Ave, I’d feel comfortable riding between the parked cars and the dashed white line; almost like having a bike lane. During peak hours, however, I imagine it’s hairy with the added car lanes.

By any chance, are there any cut through connections along C St or D St near 1st Ave, or some other way to bypass Mass Ave? Thanks!

During peak hours I stay off Mass Ave and use E St, like you said. There is a way through the mess without going through Columbus Circle – you can turn right on N Capitol then immediately left on D St. There are barriers for cars but you can ride through. Unfortunately you can’t take C St on-street to get you right to Stanton Park as it’s a one-way east of 2nd St. You’ll need to be on Mass Ave from D St to Stanton Park but that isn’t too bad.

If you are OK riding sidewalks (or salmoning) you can do this – E St NW, right on N Capitol, left on D St NE, right on 1st St NE, left on C St NE, on sidewalk once you pass 2nd St NE, then straight to Stanton Park. I just take D to Mass Ave though.

[Justin Antos]

I commute between Chinatown and Capitol Hill, sometimes through Stanton Park. In the mornings I take East Capitol westbound through the Capitol Grounds and pick up the PA Ave cycletrack at the bottom of the hill. Mass. Ave. at rush hour can be a little busy, and the left turn from Mass. Ave to E Street can be tough, so I swing around it.

In the evenings though, no left turn at Union Station is required, so I often take E St NW > Mass. Ave around Union Station > Stanton Park > Mass. Ave > Lincoln Park.

4th and 6th streets are a pair of north-south bike lanes at Stanton Park, and they can easily take you to/from the bike lanes on East Capitol to go east-west.

All in all, that part of Capitol Hill is very bike-friendly – you just might feel more comfortable avoiding Mass. Ave. at rush hour. Good luck!

[ColumbiaHeights]

Thanks guys!

[Author]

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