Fort Myer to avoid Columbia Pike?

[chris_s]

Looking at the map, and perusing the Fort Myer website, it seems possible to avoid the nastiness of the Pike / Washington Blvd interchange area by going through Fort Meyer and Henderson Hall – you could enter at the Hatfield Gate on 2nd St (24/7 gate) and then exit from the Henderson Hall Main Gate (also 24/7) onto South Gate Rd. Can anyone confirm that this is possible? Might provide a nice route to the Pentagon City and Crystal City areas for those of us who aren’t wild about biking on Columbia Pike.

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[napes]

If you don’t have a military ID card you will need to produce some sort of valid photo ID and sign in. You consent to a search, should the gate guards decide to select you. You will also need a helmet. The base is very safe for bicycling, although I would also strictly obey every stop sign and speed limit.

In my opinion, the Arlington Bike Map should also add in the Sixth Street route skirting around the National Foreign Affairs Training Center and running through Fort Myer. While the route on 8th Street is perfectly acceptable, I personally disliked the steeper hills and extra cars around George Mason and 8th Street on that route. Until something better comes along, the Sixth Street route would be my preferred bike route to bypass the Columbia Pike congestion.

[acorn]

I go through Fort Myer all the time, it is very pleasant and convenient. If you are a Fed (don’t have to be military), you can show your ID and they will wave you through, otherwise you have to show other ID and they log you in. (No idea why – doesn’t seem like this would somehow enhance security.)

[Author]

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