How in the bleep do you get from the Mall to the MBT?

[Greenbelt]

I’ve heard this question several times from cyclists trying to get from the federal office areas to the MBT. So naturally, I made a video. Here’s the usual route I take when traffic isn’t too heavy (like in August) or it’s not the peak of rush hour. (When traffic is bad, the intersections at Mass. Ave NE and 2nd street NE can get very congested, so I often detour well away from Union Station on alternate routes through Capitol Hill.)

It’s the usual hokey editing job, but hopefully informative and/or amusing. (PS, nice recumbent crossing Constitution Ave…)

[video=vimeo;28335448]http://www.vimeo.com/28335448[/video]

Topic

[jrenaut]

Your videos always make me want to get out and bike more.

[baiskeli]

Very cool, thanks!

[DaveK]

As you mentioned Columbus Circle can be dicey when it’s rush hour (and it’s in absolutely horrible shape – the renovation can’t come soon enough), so a good detour is around the Capitol on the interior paths, then turn left on 2nd St NE from East Capitol St and head up to the MBT entrance. That way you avoid Columbus Circle and the nasty left turn at 2nd St NE.

[Greenbelt]

@DaveK 7664 wrote:

As you mentioned Columbus Circle can be dicey when it’s rush hour (and it’s in absolutely horrible shape – the renovation can’t come soon enough), so a good detour is around the Capitol on the interior paths, then turn left on 2nd St NE from East Capitol St and head up to the MBT entrance. That way you avoid Columbus Circle and the nasty left turn at 2nd St NE.

Yep, sometimes when the traffic’s really bad around the Senate Office buildings, I’ll actually detour all the way down East Capitol Street to 6th street NE, and take the bike lane up to L street to cut back to the MBT.

[WillStewart]

For those who like this thread, don’t forget you can click on “Like this thread” underneath the entry itself (see my LIKE under the first message in this thread).

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