Commute through Georgetown (From Courthouse to McPherson Square)

[brookeewhite]

Thanks everyone for all the additional route suggestions! I’ll definitely keep experimenting!

[Steve O]

I see no one has recommended the Whitehurst yet.

Here’s a previous thread with lots of additional input:

[consularrider]

Well if SteveO can resurrect the Whitehurst, how about considering starting in the opposite direction, after all, it’s only three times as far and more mileage is a good thing, right? Take Veitch St to the Custis Trail, turn left until you get to the W&OD, make a left and head to Shirlington where you take a slight jog to the right to get on the 4 Mile Run Trail (4MRT) to National Airport. When you reach the Mt Vernon Trail (MVT) head up river enjoying the rustic wood mulch detours courtesy of the NPS. After crossing under the 14th St Bridge set, make a left up to the side trail on the George Mason Bridge. Use extra caution on the DC side to ensure you do not run into the sign poles as you come off the bridge at ludicrous speed trying to win that KOM. At East Basin Dr swing right for some orange cone slalom practice and get on the sidewalk (not to be confused with salmon practice which the NPS hates). This route is particularly lovely in late March and early April when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Indeed, you may wish to add the loop around East Potomac Park to get some extra miles, and if you are lucky, some Cat 6 pace line practice. At E Maine, take 15th St (Raoul Wallenberg Pl) past the Holocaust Museum, around the Washington Monument, and continue until you reach McPherson Sq. This route gets tricky during the winter when there is snow since the NPS won’t clear the MVT and DDOT doesn’t clear the bridge side path, but that’s what fat bikes are for, right?

[baiskeli]

@ginacico 126760 wrote:

I commute to NatGeo

You work at the Natty G?

[ginacico]

@baiskeli 126813 wrote:

You work at the Natty G?

Yup…. at least this week! Many of us may be working for 21st Century Fox come mid-November.

Great, great bike culture there. I moved to Arlington this summer and started riding to work, and was instantly grateful for all the nice things they offer bike commuters (lockers rooms with showers, plenty of decent bike racks in the secure garage, air pump and tools, etc.).

[brookeewhite]

@dasgeh 126755 wrote:

Here’s how I look at the TR-Bridge v. Key-to-Georgetown choice:

TR-Bridge route: beautiful, calm trail -> super narrow bridge path where you have to pay attention and slow way down when passing (for the love of God, don’t get off your bike- that makes you wider!) -> calm city streets.

So I got adventurous enough to try the TR bridge (I-66) again, this time around lunchtime on Thursday. Two men were biking from the other direction and they both dismounted to let me pass. I actually thought what they did worked quite well, and might do it myself next time. They moved their bikes close to the outside railing (the higher railing close to the river, not the low rail on the highway side) and then both leaned towards the railing themselves. It was actually quite easy to pass, especially with them creating more space near the top. Anyway, it seems that keeping a good attitude and showing patience can solve any passing issues on this narrow path.

[Steve O]

@Tania 126759 wrote:

then I usually unclip one foot and get down off the saddle and coast along slowly (with that unclipped foot ready!) until the other bike/pedestrian has passed me. It’s rare that I’ll keep riding normally to pass an oncoming cyclist although I have and it’s been fine

Funny, it has never occurred to me that one of the riders would need to stop or almost stop to make room. I have always just passed riding normally but slowly and never had an issue.

[AFHokie]

@Steve O 127125 wrote:

Funny, it has never occurred to me that one of the riders would need to stop or almost stop to make room. I have always just passed riding normally but slowly and never had an issue.

It proves no two riders are alike and a situation that may not cause one rider pause, may place another outside their comfort level.

[ginacico]

@Brendan von Buckingham 126764 wrote:

Key is worth a try at least once to see if it’s your each? Your own? Whatever.

So while I’ve been more routine using the TR bridge, I tried Key bridge – M Street – Penn one day last week on my way into work. And it was awesome! The right lane through Georgetown was almost clear, and what little traffic there was moved at a speed I could merge in easily. I failed to get over three lanes in time to take a left onto L Street, so I stopped at 25th (where I usually cross Penn anyway) and used the light to cross. Also there were very few pedestrians on the bridge. Overall it was a smooth commute, and seemed much less hassle than taking that route the opposite direction in the evening.

Now I know I have options.

[Subby]

@ginacico 127186 wrote:

So while I’ve been more routine using the TR bridge, I tried Key bridge – M Street – Penn one day last week on my way into work. And it was awesome! The right lane through Georgetown was almost clear, and what little traffic there was moved at a speed I could merge in easily. I failed to get over three lanes in time to take a left onto L Street, so I stopped at 25th (where I usually cross Penn anyway) and used the light to cross. Also there were very few pedestrians on the bridge. Overall it was a smooth commute, and seemed much less hassle than taking that route the opposite direction in the evening.

Now I know I have options.

Nice! So glad it worked out for you.

[brookeewhite]

Tonight I was planning to leave downtown DC via Penn and ride the M street cycle track to Georgetown and back over the Key Bridge to Arlington. Total disaster instead. I got disoriented at Wash Circle and it was dark and my map wasn’t handy. A few blocks later I saw Virginia Ave and remembered riding it in the morning so followed that. Next thing I knew I was on the Rock Creek Parkway with cars whizzing by on both sides honking and drivers rolling down their windows to yell at me. I had thought if I moved to the left I could turn and get to the trail but didn’t realize those lanes were reversed until it was too late… Took forever to even make a lane change to the right with everyone flying by honking and all I could see was flying headlights and angry people. Eventually made it to Massachusetts Avenue and ended the ordeal. Please someone else say this has happened to them, too?

[Brendan von Buckingham]

@ginacico 127186 wrote:

So while I’ve been more routine using the TR bridge, I tried Key bridge – M Street – Penn one day last week on my way into work. And it was awesome! The right lane through Georgetown was almost clear, and what little traffic there was moved at a speed I could merge in easily. I failed to get over three lanes in time to take a left onto L Street, so I stopped at 25th (where I usually cross Penn anyway) and used the light to cross. Also there were very few pedestrians on the bridge. Overall it was a smooth commute, and seemed much less hassle than taking that route the opposite direction in the evening.

Now I know I have options.

Nice. An alternative to moving over left to take L off of Penn is to take Penn all the way to Washington Circle, go 3/4s around and take New Hampshire. One block on New Hampshire gets you to L. I like it because it avoids the crunchy merge from Penn to L. The circle is also frequently faster because of the timing of the lights. And if you’re careful of 24th Street, you can right on red onto to L Street which is a time-saver.

[Steve O]

@brookeewhite 127720 wrote:

Tonight I was planning to leave downtown DC via Penn and ride the M street cycle track to Georgetown and back over the Key Bridge to Arlington. Total disaster instead. I got disoriented at Wash Circle and it was dark and my map wasn’t handy. A few blocks later I saw Virginia Ave and remembered riding it in the morning so followed that. Next thing I knew I was on the Rock Creek Parkway with cars whizzing by on both sides honking and drivers rolling down their windows to yell at me. I had thought if I moved to the left I could turn and get to the trail but didn’t realize those lanes were reversed until it was too late… Took forever to even make a lane change to the right with everyone flying by honking and all I could see was flying headlights and angry people. Eventually made it to Massachusetts Avenue and ended the ordeal. Please someone else say this has happened to them, too?

You don’t happen to have a strava track for your wild ride, do you? I’d be interested in seeing exactly where you went wrong.
Sounds very stressful…and scary. I’m glad you got out okay.

[Steve O]

@ginacico 127186 wrote:

I failed to get over three lanes in time to take a left onto L Street, so I stopped at 25th (where I usually cross Penn anyway) and used the light to cross.

I always give myself the option of either moving left into the turn lane or doing a “pedestrian left” at 25th and make my decision based on what’s going on around me at the moment. Depending on the cycle, the pedestrian left is sometimes faster than waiting for the left turn light anyway.

[ginacico]

@Steve O 127734 wrote:

I’m glad you got out okay.

Me too!

It’s safe to say most of us have gotten disoriented at one point or another. DC streets with traffic circles, lanes that switch direction, darkness, headlights and horns…. it’s a challenge.

The trick in those situations is to stay safe. Bail out to a sidewalk or somewhere you can take a breath and strategize your next move.

Then, when you get home, stare at a map until you figure out how exactly it went wrong. Give yourself the confidence that the next time you try that route, you’ll know exactly what to do. Once you’ve done it a few times, it will become automatic.

Circles as large as Washington Circle are notoriously confusing. I often route around them.

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