Metropolitan Branch Trail

[KLizotte]

I’ve ridden on it a few times by myself on a sunny weekend day. I didn’t feel unsafe but I wouldn’t ride it alone at night. It’s not a pretty trail like the MVT or CCT. It’s more of a “need to get between A and B” type of trail.

I subscribe to the MBT listserv forum and there haven’t been any scary incidents in months. They seem to have an active community that sponsors cleanups and fun oriented events along the trail.

Stick to daylight hours and you should be fine. The more peds/bikers on the trail, the better.

[DaveK]

@Birdstrike 26181 wrote:

I haven’t explored this one yet. Awhile back I recall reading about some assaults on the MBT, including a couple that involved cyclists in DC. For those that use this trail regularly, any issues here to be concerned about or was that just an unusual blip of activity?

I haven’t heard about any recently, I run there every couple of weeks or so, live in the area, and I’m subscribed to the relevant MPD district mailing list. It may get worse again once school is back in session – a lot of the problems come from kids getting out of school nearby and walking over there with nothing better to do. It’s not just robberies either, stories abound of high school kids using the trail area to drink and have… romantic liaisons… since it’s relatively secluded in some places.

I wouldn’t worry about it. Even when there was a spell of more regular issues the vast majority of people using the trail haven’t had issues. My wife rides the MBT to work occasionally and I’m not too worried about it. I might be after dark, but we’ll see when we come to that…

[Greenbelt]

I’ve ridden it every weekday for nearly two years now. Never had a problem. There are usually lots of people out, and it’s pretty easy to just wait up on 8th street near the new artist lofts for riders coming down or near the NY Ave metro for riders going up if you’re not comfortable going alone and want to tag along with other riders.

[Author]

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