Dunn Loring to Rosslyn avoiding the W&OD and Custis

[GP_Slowride]

After seeing the amount of people on the W&OD yesterday evening I think it is best to avoid it, and the Custis, until the threat of Covid-19 has passed. My morning commute west is well before the sun comes up so that direction is fine. Unfortunately I don’t know the streets that well around the W&OD between Railroad Ave. and where the access trail is to get from the Custis to Fairfax Dr.

Can anybody help me out with some tips on getting from the Dunn Loring area to Wilson Blvd. or Fairfax Dr. using the trails as little as possible?

Topic

[josh]

Here’s a route I just put together. Really, I think you need to decide how you’re going to cross 495 and 66. AFAIK, the main bike-friendly crossings for those (other than the W&OD) in the area are Oak St and Idylwood Rd for the former (but Oak’s a lot less stressful) and Virginia Ln or Barbour St for the latter (pretty similar IMO). I’m a big fan of Washington Blvd, and now most of it (but not all) has painted bike lanes. Other caveats with this route include the off-roading part in South Railroad Street Park (by the beginning) and the ramp onto Washington Blvd (over 66, by the in-progress W&OD bridge). I think you should be comfortable riding on well-trafficked streets, but it’s how I’d get from Dunn Loring to Rosslyn entirely avoiding trails.

Bentbike might also be able to help.

[GP_Slowride]

That is exactly what I am looking for. I start a little east of your start point so I don’t have to worry about crossing 495 or 66. I typically ride up West. St. and cut through the neighborhoods to get to the W&OD so this will be easy to follow. Thanks so much!

[bentbike33]

If you don’t like the Washington Blvd. ramp, from West St. you could take Park St. through Falls Church to Little Falls to Columbia-16th, then go up Sycamore (bike lanes) to Washington Blvd.

[Author]

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