Greenbelt to Arlington commute

[Mike]

Hi all, I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. I live in Greenbelt MD and work at Arlington Hall (George Mason Drive at Rt. 50). I have been motorcycle commuting for 18 years, and recently decided to expand my two-wheel fun opportunities to a bicycle. Exercise-wise I have been running marathons and ultras for several years, so I thought it would be doable to commute via bike. After reading the posts on this forum it appears if several of yall commute at least that far.

I have been having fun tuning up my old steel frame Diamondback Ascent and researching the merits of tubeless tires etc. and look forward to discussions on the Tech forum.

I have worked out a tentative route and have test ridden both the MD and VA portions. I will be riding in the dark both mornings and evenings this winter, so safety (both from vehicles and from criminals) is of interest to me.

Does anyone have any comments on this route? Any suggestions for a better way?

NE Branch trail to Rhode Island
Rhode Island to the Metropolitan Branch Trail
R Street west to 15th st NW
15th south to the 14th St bridge (the one with the pedestrian/bike lane)
Go thru the LBJ Memorial Grove
cross the wooden bridge
Take South Washington to Columbia Pike
Ride on the sidewalk on the Pike until S. Courthouse
Right on S. Courthouse to Arlington Blvd
Take the bike trail on the south side of Arlington Blvd

To get home reverse these turns

Topic

[jrenaut]

I imagine you’re aware of some of the violent incidents on the MBT. I do not think it is necessarily unsafe, but you should be aware that it has happened, and ride accordingly.

15th St southbound sucks. They’re repaving now, so the condition of the SB lane will be much better soon, but the light timing going south is awful. 14th is much faster (though the construction from V to Q has made it pretty unpleasant lately).

Taking the 14th St bridge into DC requires either riding on the sidewalk or riding the wrong way on the entrance ramp to 395. Neither of these is fun, but TONS of cyclists do it.

Welcome to the forum!

[Greenbelt]

I’ve ridden the Met Branch every day, and many weekends, for three years and never had a problem. It’s as safe as any street in my opinion.

There are neighborhood cut throughs that might be more pleasant and not much slower than Rhode Island to get from the NW Branch to Met Branch: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1672118

R Street to 15th is OK, but it might be just as fast to take 2nd street NE down to the Capitol area, and then cut west to 15th on PA ave cycletrack or Independence Ave south of the Mall?

I ride from Old Greenbelt to PA Ave every day… -Jeff

[Mike]

Jrenaut, thanks for the tip on 15th st – I didn’t see a bike lane on 14th but if there is enough room it could work…..Greenbelt, I hadn’t thought about 2nd st NE, that looks like a good route – is that how you go?

[Rod Smith]

I use Greenbelt’s route from NE Branch Trail to MBT. From 2nd NE, I’d suggest D St. to 3rd NW, to Madison Dr. to 15th.

[Greenbelt]

@Mike 66124 wrote:

Jrenaut, thanks for the tip on 15th st – I didn’t see a bike lane on 14th but if there is enough room it could work…..Greenbelt, I hadn’t thought about 2nd st NE, that looks like a good route – is that how you go?

Yes. I take the Rod Smith route usually. Met Branch to 2nd NE to D street westbound and then angle down to the Mall area.

[dasgeh]

I know the Arlington portion than the rest, so I’ll stick to that

@Mike 66111 wrote:

15th south to the 14th St bridge (the one with the pedestrian/bike lane)
Go thru the LBJ Memorial Grove
cross the wooden bridge
Take South Washington to Columbia Pike
Ride on the sidewalk on the Pike until S. Courthouse
Right on S. Courthouse to Arlington Blvd
Take the bike trail on the south side of Arlington Blvd

To get home reverse these turns

I wouldn’t do this. I see your options as:
1) Through Fort Myer: depends on your employer and work hours. Assuming it works for you, I think it’s the best. https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d30605!2d-77.0716696!3d38.8820058!4m29!3m28!1m5!1sThe+White+House%2C+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW%2C+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+DC+20500!2s0x89b7b7bcdecbb1df%3A0x715969d86d0b76bf!3m2!3d38.897683!4d-77.036497!1m5!1sArlington+Hall+Station%2C+111+S+George+Mason+Dr%2C+Arlington%2C+VA+22204!2s0x89b7b41c2c8b4259%3A0x3962c4aafd458bc3!3m2!3d38.86745!4d-77.105008!2e1!3m8!1m3!1d30605!2d-77.0718696!3d38.8834545!3m2!1i1680!2i946!4f13.1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8689655!4d-77.0958284!3s0x89b7b6a3cc03351f%3A0xf94d9ea29875b48e!4f1&fid=0

2) Memorial Bridge –> Iwo Jima –> 15th St –> Barton –> Pershing (or parallel streets): Once the trail along 50 re-opens, you can do Memorial Bridge –> Iwo Jima –> Fairfax –> Pershing… https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d15302!2d-77.1039935!3d38.8843697!4m70!3m69!1m5!1sThe+White+House%2C+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW%2C+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+DC+20500!2s0x89b7b7bcdecbb1df%3A0x715969d86d0b76bf!3m2!3d38.897683!4d-77.036497!1m4!3m2!3d38.8665602!4d-77.1063622!6e2!2e1!3m8!1m3!1d30605!2d-77.0718696!3d38.8834545!3m2!1i1680!2i946!4f13.1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8899478!4d-77.0794013!3s0x89b7b6f552b8c0b9%3A0x584cd7f26ba4e4e4!4f0.5218869!9m5!2m2!3d38.890183!4d-77.0886625!3s0x89b7b6884ecb8079%3A0x71befb3d85ce62b1!4f0.2799865!9m5!2m2!3d38.8856411!4d-77.0880551!3s0x89b7b68ed813683d%3A0xd627aec254b63bc6!4f0.576478!9m5!2m2!3d38.8807059!4d-77.0875961!3s0x89b7b691d06c7677%3A0x56612cd35a3e7f22!4f1!9m5!2m2!3d38.880687!4d-77.0876876!3s0x89b7b691d2b30283%3A0x6f2e716d05800245!4f1!9m5!2m2!3d38.881091!4d-77.0960397!3s0x89b7b69b5ce500ed%3A0xd5bde272b77ce96d!4f0.4305511!9m5!2m2!3d38.8708721!4d-77.1072941!3s0x89b7b41f23b47729%3A0x3c83731ffc8b4d29!4f1!9m5!2m2!3d38.867544!4d-77.1070316!3s0x89b7b41ea3b259bb%3A0x5f20f7197539a6e0!4f1&fid=0

3) TR Bridge –> Custis –> Veitch –> Key –> Highland –> Pershing (or roads parallel): https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d15303!2d-77.0895534!3d38.8791556!4m40!3m39!1m5!1sThe+White+House%2C+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW%2C+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+DC+20500!2s0x89b7b7bcdecbb1df%3A0x715969d86d0b76bf!3m2!3d38.897683!4d-77.036497!1m4!3m2!3d38.8665602!4d-77.1063622!6e2!2e1!3m8!1m3!1d15302!2d-77.1039935!3d38.8843697!3m2!1i1680!2i946!4f13.1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8921467!4d-77.0924491!3s0x89b7b67d602c0307%3A0xfc4ce17f95567b78!4f0.3646648!9m5!2m2!3d38.8783776!4d-77.0984044!3s0x89b7b69c3efb0fab%3A0x77d30665e570d8e5!4f0.527637!9m5!2m2!3d38.8767519!4d-77.1045587!3s0x89b7b420c105987d%3A0xec663da5689824ed!4f1&fid=0

4) 14th St Bridge –> Washington Blvd Trail –> Southgate Rd –> Orme –> Pike –> Courthouse –> 6th/7th: Like your original, but I think you’ll like Southgate better than the Pike, and 6th/7th better than along 50: https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d15305!2d-77.0912859!3d38.8711899!4m40!3m39!1m5!1sThe+White+House%2C+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW%2C+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+DC+20500!2s0x89b7b7bcdecbb1df%3A0x715969d86d0b76bf!3m2!3d38.897683!4d-77.036497!1m4!3m2!3d38.8665602!4d-77.1063622!6e2!2e1!3m8!1m3!1d15303!2d-77.0895534!3d38.8791556!3m2!1i1680!2i946!4f13.1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8686371!4d-77.0723019!3s0x89b7b6c20d5c0295%3A0x9388130a895d23b5!4f0.438133!9m5!2m2!3d38.8684949!4d-77.0863923!3s0x89b7b6bdb515e36b%3A0xe8664990cccd2314!4f0.1738586!9m5!2m2!3d38.8668396!4d-77.0883648!3s0x89b7b6bc89452a0f%3A0x209d42b580094749!4f0.4518785&fid=0

5) Above but through Fort Myer: Avoid the Pike altogether! https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d15305!2d-77.0912859!3d38.8711899!4m58!3m57!1m5!1sThe+White+House%2C+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW%2C+Washington%2C+D.C.%2C+DC+20500!2s0x89b7b7bcdecbb1df%3A0x715969d86d0b76bf!3m2!3d38.897683!4d-77.036497!1m4!3m2!3d38.8665602!4d-77.1063622!6e2!2e1!3m8!1m3!1d15303!2d-77.0895534!3d38.8791556!3m2!1i1680!2i946!4f13.1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8686371!4d-77.0723019!3s0x89b7b6c20d5c0295%3A0x9388130a895d23b5!4f0.438133!9m5!2m2!3d38.8704113!4d-77.0752519!3s0x89b7b6ea6ceabc1f%3A0x519f30e9ea4483d4!4f0.4877063!9m5!2m2!3d38.8735562!4d-77.0778924!3s0x89b7b6eb1260ab9d%3A0xd46b73ee03457e39!4f0.9496769!9m5!2m2!3d38.8727488!4d-77.0790512!3s0x89b7b6eb2a70eec9%3A0x2b99284ca6ca3361!4f1!9m5!2m2!3d38.8684949!4d-77.0863923!3s0x89b7b6bdb515e36b%3A0xe8664990cccd2314!4f0.1738586!9m5!2m2!3d38.8668396!4d-77.0883648!3s0x89b7b6bc89452a0f%3A0x209d42b580094749!4f0.4518785&fid=0

[DismalScientist]

As always, I think you need hills. Get over to Silver Spring by whatever means you Marylanders have. Take the Georgetown Branch trail and the Capital Crescent trail until the “overlook” for the Chain Bridge. Portage by trail down to Chain Bridge. Experience 41st Street on the Virginia side and take the road over Glebe Road and right onto Old Glebe Road. Make a left on Glebe and a right on Williamsburg. Take a left on George Mason, through the trail through Rock Springs park and onto George Mason to Arlington Blvd.

Sorta like this: http://www.strava.com/activities/50696880

[Rod Smith]

The Virginians will have to approve and/or offer alternatives to the southern end of your proposed route. You lost me at 14th Street Bridge. :p

I’d probably “angle down” on Louisiana Ave, to Constitution to 3rd but I suggested D to 3rd so you would avoid all the lane changes on the short stretch of Constitution Ave. to set up for the left turn on 3rd. Greenbelt rides Pennsylvania Ave to 15th when he’s going to Virginia. I feel like Penn is pulling me the wrong way. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Try all variations, find the ones that fit your preferences. I rode straight in on Rhode Island one day last week and I got to work almost ten minutes quicker. That was nice. Consider quality of ride, safety, fitness benefits (add hills!). Maybe like Greenbelt, you like riding your bike and don’t need to ride the shortest way. Maybe you’re like me running late and need to go direct.

For many years I rode straight in on RI. These days I’m almost always running late but never go direct. I almost always go Arundel Road to Varnum to 20th to Otis to 15th to Newton to 12th to Monroe to 8th. Otis all the way to 10th isn’t a bad choice. On the return, I prefer Newton straight to 20th.

[Mike]

Next question – do you all use pedal clips in the downtown stop/go traffic? Or is it better to wear regular shoes? I really like the extra power the clips give, but it might be too inconvenient to be constantly clipping/unclipping (not to speak of psosibly dangerous if you can’t unclip in time).

[jrenaut]

I switched from toe clips to SPDs when the toe clips started bothering my knees. Since then I’ve probably ridden 2-3000 miles in the city, and I’ve fallen because of the clips once.

But it’s all about what you’re comfortable with. I can’t imagine going back to regular shoes, but certainly many people prefer them.

[consularrider]

There are several of us that use the combination pedals (platform on one side/spd on the other). There are several different types by Shimano, Performance, Nashbar, and Wellgo,

[KLizotte]

I ride with SPDs (with mtn bike shoes) in traffic all the time and haven’t had a problem. I keep them on the lightest tension. I do use dual platform pedals though and have found having the platform side useful if I have to stop on a steep hill. I’m not coordinated enough to push hard to get momentum and clip in at the same time.

Clipping in/out becomes second nature fairly quickly IMHO.

[5555624]

@Mike 66111 wrote:

Does anyone have any comments on this route? Any suggestions for a better way?

I’d ride Columbia Pike and not the sidewalk, but I understand those who prefer not to — especially with those two new traffic lights which are all screwed up. (That stretch of the Pike has been part of my commute for at least a dozen years, although westbound in the afternoon and eastbound in the morning.)

If you are going to come up Columbia Pike, in the morning, take S Courthouse to 2nd Street South and make a left. Make a right on Old Glebe (at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School sign) and pop up to Rt 50 and cross Glebe.

Heading home, take the sidewalk to Glebe Rd and make a right. Make a right on 1st Rd S, a left on S Oakland, and left on 2nd St S. Cross Glebe at the light and head to S Courthouse Rd. This sounds a lot more complicated and longer than it really is — it’s normally quicker than making a right no Glebe and left on 2nd or crossing Glebe to get to Old Glebe.

(Actually, from S Courthouse and Columbia Pike, I’d take Courthouse, then 8th St, then Walter Reed, then 7th St, then Highland, then 6th St, then Irving, then 2nd St; but that’s more out of habit than anything else.)

[Mike]

I am going to try the various routes you all have recommended – thanks so much! I take the Army APFT on the 17th so will start the riding commute after that date (don’t want to risk an injury before it). I am really looking forward to the ride!

[Author]

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