Commute through Georgetown (From Courthouse to McPherson Square)

[wheelswings]

@ginacico 127739 wrote:

Me too!

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.

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

Eek. Sounds like a freaky and upsetting ride, brookeewhite. Sorry to hear, but glad you are safe.

I’m not sure of your starting point, but if I were heading along Penn Ave NW, trying to make my way west to Key Bridge, I’d probably cut up one of the even/northbound streets like 20th or 22nd, just prior to the circle. Then I’d head west on the M cycletrack until Rose Park or 28th, where I’d cut north to N St. Smooth sailing on N all the way to 34th…then pick your way down across M to Key Bridge, either taking the lane or carefully making your way on the left of the cars (if they’re backed up and you’re alert for dooring hazards) which will put you in the left lane as you enter M…you can cross with the full green (which comes after the green arrow) and get on the east walkway of Key.

It’s totally fine if you prefer taking Washington Circle and riding through Georgetown on M. But I just wanted to make sure you know that some of us long-time commuters consistently avoid that route, in favor of slightly longer but more peaceful passages away from traffic.

Be safe. w&w

[Steve O]

@wheels&wings 127751 wrote:

E all the way to 34th…then pick your way down across M to Key Bridge, ….and get on the east walkway of Key.

If you are going to go west on the Custis, then it’s better to turn right from the center lane of 34th into the second turn lane onto Key Bridge. Then when you get the left turn signal just follow the cars and stay right onto the Key Bridge sidewalk. Do be careful of right turning cars from Canal Road, who sometimes like to edge forward as you enter the sidewalk.

This way you avoid the IoD, and the upstream sidewalk is always much less crowded than the downstream one.

Here’s a map.

[brookeewhite]

Thanks for the camaraderie and support, guys. Yes, I spent at least a half hour looking at the map when I got home last night. I was directionally challenged for sure, but my biggest takeaway is this… Don’t proceed if you don’t know where you are going, better to stop and go back even if it wastes time. Of course at the time, I was worried about getting to my daughter’s day care before it closed (the whole reason I’m biking instead of relying on metro), but had I really known the risk I was taking, would have known it wasn’t worth it… And in the end my husband had to go get her anyway and then come get me. But I digress.

My ill-fated route: I haven’t completely figured out what happened (no strava), but the best I can figure out… From Penn, I made a right on 22nd in order to avoid Washington circle. Then I was going to make a left on M and ride to Key Bridge, but got distracted by some construction, and in hindsight, I think I must have taken New Hampshire by accident instead of M. At the time I thought I was on L, but the map says that is one-way – the other way – and I know I wasn’t riding against traffic – so best guess is that I was on New Hampshire. I couldn’t figure out how I ended up in the circle but wanted to get past it so went straight through. I think by the time I saw a street sign it said H and 25th. I remembered riding on Virginia Ave that morning and thought I was close to where I could pick up Capital Crescent trail to return the way I had come that morning (giving up on M street by this point), but couldn’t find the crossing in the dark. I thought I was almost to it but must have been past it. Then I was on Rock Creek parkway, which was one way without much shoulder, no sidewalks or crosswalks or stop lights, no way out but to continue forward. After I took the exit to Massachusetts Ave (along Waterside Dr I think) I found a spot with more shoulder and pulled over to call for a ride. Then a cop came by to re-open the reverse lane to allow 2-way traffic and said I should continue riding out to Massachusetts, which I did, cutting through the residential driveway alley at the end of the block, and got a ride from there (Kalorama).

Thanks for the map of how to go over the Key bridge, I had been thinking that part over as well. I haven’t given up yet… I was happy with the routes I was previously taking (”Memorial bridge to Arlington cemetery to Iwo Jima” or “I-66 to Mount Vernon northbound”) until daylight savings ended and then Mount Vernon and the cemetery seemed too dark. Even though I have lights to see my path, I felt less safe and was looking for a more well lit route. The section of Custis from Rosslyn to Courthouse seems okay to me and I was thinking Georgetown/Key bridge might be a better lit way to get there. I’ll take a look at the N street to Georgetown route mentioned, eventually I’ll do some daytime exploring to figure this out more safely. Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions, I’m not giving up yet!

[Crickey7]

That is quite the accidental jaunt you took. You got a good story out of it, but let’s hope that future journeys will be less eventful.

[ginacico]

Definitely, stop as soon as you realize you’ve messed up. They teach that to kids if they get separated from their family, and it’s just as valid for adults.

And geezlouise, your description just gave me a wicked flashback. About, hmm, 20+ years ago I was taking graduate classes at GWU and driving downtown (from Virginia) after work. It was always a hassle trying to get to class on time. A full-time job plus night school, very stressful.

Anyway, one night I took that exact same wrong turn and wound up on Rock Creek Parkway, a speeding array of headlights on an unlit road headed god knows where in the wrong direction. There’s absolutely no way to escape until you get to Mass Ave, and then I was stuck among the embassies feeling pretty stupid.

I’m not one to break down into sobbing fits of hysteria, but that experience did me in. I think I bailed on class, got home somehow, and crawled under the covers. That intersection at rush hour must be some kind of Foggy Bottom Funnel for the Feckless, one lapse of attention and you’re halfway to nowhere. It seemed that way in a car, and I can only imagine on a bike it would be exponentially frightening.

@brookeewhite 127720 wrote:

Please someone else say this has happened to them, too?

Well there ya go. Good for your for not giving up, and keep us posted as you master the commute home!

[wheelswings]

@brookeewhite 127757 wrote:

I was worried about getting to my daughter’s day care before it closed (the whole reason I’m biking instead of relying on metro)…. But I digress.
…. Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions, I’m not giving up yet!

To me, this gets right to the heart of the matter. It’s not a digression.

As you’ve figured out, bicycle-riding is the most reliable and predictable way to get to and from the office…and Metro is the opposite. That’s why I started bicycle commuting too…not for the environment or my health or other more virtuous reasons. As a parent (single parent, in my case) there is little leeway in the times for pickups or school buses or kiddie carpools. Once you master your routes (preferably in daylight), you can feel confident that you will be there for the little one(s) on time. And then you don’t have to worry… you just enjoy the ride!

Keep it up. w&w

[brookeewhite]

You guys are sweet, thanks for helping me smile!

[KLizotte]

If you have a smart phone you can download the Strava app which will track where you are riding via GPS which you can then download at home to see where you went wrong. Keep in mind the battery drain though so leave with a fully charged phone from work.

[dasgeh]

I, too, am glad you’re ok. Not many of us have biked on that part of Rock Creek in the daylight, let alone darkened evening rush!

I know the area well, and can see how you went astray. The good (?) news is that you were one turn onto a sidewalk away from finding a way to Water Street, which you could take to Wisconsin or even Key Bridge, if you don’t mind hopping off your bike for some steps.

Once you get to Virginia, you have to cross over to the southwest sidewalk, then use the pedestrian light to get to the trail by the marina (you must have turned right with the rest of car-traffic). Take the trail north, then veer left when you can to go under the E Street expressway. This will be dark for like 100 yards, then you’ll be on Water Street, under the Whitehurst. From there, either turn right on Wisconsin and left on M, or just take this route, (or something like it using one of the many bridges across the canal) which makes you carry your bike up a few stairs, but will get you to the Key Bridge without M.

[scoot]

@brookeewhite 127757 wrote:

I was happy with the routes I was previously taking (”Memorial bridge to Arlington cemetery to Iwo Jima” or “I-66 to Mount Vernon northbound”) until daylight savings ended and then Mount Vernon and the cemetery seemed too dark. Even though I have lights to see my path, I felt less safe and was looking for a more well lit route. The section of Custis from Rosslyn to Courthouse seems okay to me and I was thinking Georgetown/Key bridge might be a better lit way to get there.

It’s always great to be familiar with multiple route options, because factors like traffic, weather, time of day, fatigue, etc. can vary to make different choices become optimal under different circumstances. I don’t commute into DC but I do often go downtown in the evenings. M Street to upstream Key Bridge is my favorite route back to Arlington, but I might use a parallel street when Georgetown traffic is hectic. I use the Custis early in the evening, but I prefer to ride up Wilson Blvd all the way instead when it’s really late.

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