Is biking to Tysons safe?

[Tim Kelley]

I’ve done the Arlington to Tysons ride quite a few times. Your route looks good, although the section of Gallows you’d be on has pretty fast moving traffic.

Check out this link. This route is about a mile shorter, and the section of Gallow on this route has very wide asphalt sidewalk that goes up along it. You can also cut through to Kidwell Dr. from Gallows Rd. right by Science Application Ct.

[jabberwocky]

Also note that you don’t need to ride up to the park to get to woodford from the W&OD. There is a gravel trail that connects the W&OD to Electric Ave (right at the bend where the two are close). Look to your right as you ride along the chain link fence. Right the end theres a white concrete abutment, the trail is right in front of it. That was part of my old commute (my office was right at 7 and 123).

Your route looks doable. The Gosnell section from 123 across 7 is pretty heavily trafficked though, especially at rush hour. Another option is to follow the W&OD across Maple Ave, and then get into the Vienna back roads behind the shopping centers off 7. There are a few pedestrian paths that can be linked on a bike, and then you could cross 7 at Spring Hill and ride down Greensboro.

[JimF22003]

Woodford to Old Courthouse Rd is not bad at all. There are some tricks with parking lots to get over to Rt 7. Do use the little gravel cutover that runs besides the Navy Fed Credit Union that jabberwocky mentioned. Unless it’s real muddy it’s fine on a road bike. It’s only about half a block or so.

When I ride down Gallows from the W&OD I usually take the side path for most of it. It’s bumpy and there’s too many cuts for the intersections, but I don’t like racing the traffic on Gallows much. Supposedly they will be adding painted bike lanes at some point in the next year like the ones that run from the W&OD down to the Merrifield metro. That will help some.

[PrintError]

WEAR A HELMET!!!

Despite last week’s accident, I’ve been biking in on and around Tysons for four years. It’s really not that bad if you’re cautious and safe. Wear reflective gear and lights at all times. Enjoy the freedom!

[Bruce Wright]

The route that Tim showed is a good one. It uses the Oak St Beltway crossing and bypasses a long stretch of Gallows Rd although it uses a short stretch of Idylwood Rd that is usually very busy. What route you use depends on where in Tysons you are going. Tysons is a big place and there are several routes from the south that lead to different parts.

An alternative to Tim’s route is to take Gallows to head west on Wolftrap Rd where there is a new bridge that connects two sections of the road. You can then head north on one of the side streets. I prefer Lord Fairfax to Woodford as there is almost no traffic on the wide, residential street. Then you would take Old Courthouse (not Chain Bridge) either west or east depending on your destination.

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