Go south on Wash. Blvd to bypass Col. pike?

[ShinyBiker]

I was taking a cab ride on Wash. Blvd heading south and saw a yellow bicycle sign (or thought I did). I was thinking of taking 2nd st. S and getting on Wash. Blvd south, then getting off @ columbia pike. My ultimate destination would be Pentagon city mall.

Can you ride the shoulder on Wash. blvd? why was the sign there? I usually take Col Pike downhill, but that is sometimes hairy. I know Ft. Myer is an option, but in the mornings there is usually a line of cars waiting to get in.

Topic

[OneEighth]

I would strongly advise against riding on Washington Blvd below where Route 50 crosses. High speeds, lots of traffic, no escape route.

[Dirt]

@OneEighth 5243 wrote:

I would strongly advise against riding on Washington Blvd below where Route 50 crosses. High speeds, lots of traffic, no escape route.

And there are lots of great ways to get around it. Filmore Street (both North and South) is actually quite lovely to ride upon.

[ShinyBiker]

What I’m trying to avoid is Col Pike. That downhill during rush hour traffic is ok. But you get the occassional driver who honks b/c he can’t understand why you’re not riding the sidewalk.

[brendan]

@OneEighth 5243 wrote:

I would strongly advise against riding on Washington Blvd below where Route 50 crosses. High speeds, lots of traffic, no escape route.

I concur. Night biked back home that way once (northbound). Shoulder was OK, if a bit debris laden. Traffic was going over 50mph mostly. Lots of exit ramps to get killed crossing. And…then the shoulder disappears for a while.

Pretty terrifying ride and I’m not usually phased. Not planning on doing that again.

Brendan

[Allen Muchnick]

Yes, southbound Washington Blvd has a continuous wide paved shoulder and no ramp crossings from 2nd St S (actually S Walter Reed Dr/Uhle St) and the exit ramp to Columbia Pike. It’s fast and direct, perfectly legal, and reasonably safe for bicycling, but be alert for debris on the shoulder.

The closest nearby through street, S Courthouse Rd, is considerably less direct and requires riding the entire downhill segment of Columbia Pike from S Courthouse Rd to the Washington Blvd interchange.

The yellow warning signs referenced in the original message are for the short sidepath along Washington Blvd between Rte 50 and the S Walter Reed Dr/Uhle St exit ramp, where the sidepath crosses high-speed highway exit and entrance ramps. That sidepath will someday be extended south to Columbia Pike, but the existing shoulder is perfectly adequate for southbound bicycling by competent adult cyclists.

[ShinyBiker]

@Allen Muchnick 5353 wrote:

Yes, southbound Washington Blvd has a continuous wide paved shoulder and no ramp crossings from 2nd St S (actually S Walter Reed Dr/Uhle St) and the exit ramp to Columbia Pike. It’s fast and direct, perfectly legal, and reasonably safe for bicycling, but be alert for debris on the shoulder.

The closest nearby through street, S Courthouse Rd, is considerably less direct and requires riding the entire downhill segment of Columbia Pike from S Courthouse Rd to the Washington Blvd interchange.

The yellow warning signs referenced in the original message are for the short sidepath along Washington Blvd between Rte 50 and the S Walter Reed Dr/Uhle St exit ramp, where the sidepath crosses high-speed highway exit and entrance ramps. That sidepath will someday be extended south to Columbia Pike, but the existing shoulder is perfectly adequate for southbound bicycling by competent adult cyclists.

Thanks, Allen. Will give it a shot.

[Author]

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