New female biker – University of Maryland to 17th and G NW

[Greenbelt]

Hi newb — I commute from Old Greenbelt to 19th and K, and I often have open commute convoy meetups on Fridays. Here are some ideas/resources. Also, if you’re willing to give out a more precise starting point (just within a couple blocks or so) over the Internets, people on this forum can often suggest precise street routings that may be the best or most pleasant.

Let me say that I think you’re right to look for the safest, nicest routes rather than the straighest or fastest — some roads in our area are just horrible to ride on, and some of the local trails are really nice, but may not be the most direct routing.

I take the trails along the Route 1/Anacostia Tributary trails corridor — here’s the route I took for the College Park Bike to Work Day convoy, although there are lots of alternate possibilities: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4518248

You can also take R street across town westbound and Q street eastbound to get from the Met Branch trail to the 15th Street cycletrack.

I’m affiliated (by marriage) with Proteus bike shop in north College Park, and we do open group rides on weekends. For example, tomorrow we’re riding down to DC in the morning to get coffee at Eastern Market and meetup with another shop ride from Bikinetic in Virginia.

Those group rides can be fun ways to learn the nicest commuting routes. Good luck! -Jeff

[video=vimeo;38578601]https://vimeo.com/38578601[/video]

[n18]

This Strava heatmap for the area shows where people bike more often, but it represents only those who upload to Strava:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#12/-77.01185/38.94262/gray/bike

Also, Google Maps shows biking directions, and I think only the desktop version shows elevation profile. There are some web sites that show elevation profiles, but they are hard to use. Here is one, but you have to switch to the bike symbol first(It’s the third button from the left), then click the starting point, and any points along the route, or the final point. It doesn’t show dots where you click until you click on a second point.

[newbiehere]

@Greenbelt 90657 wrote:

Hi newb — I commute from Old Greenbelt to 19th and K, and I often have open commute convoy meetups on Fridays. Here are some ideas/resources. Also, if you’re willing to give out a more precise starting point (just within a couple blocks or so) over the Internets, people on this forum can often suggest precise street routings that may be the best or most pleasant.

Let me say that I think you’re right to look for the safest, nicest routes rather than the straighest or fastest — some roads in our area are just horrible to ride on, and some of the local trails are really nice, but may not be the most direct routing.

I take the trails along the Route 1/Anacostia Tributary trails corridor — here’s the route I took for the College Park Bike to Work Day convoy, although there are lots of alternate possibilities: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4518248

You can also take R street across town westbound and Q street eastbound to get from the Met Branch trail to the 15th Street cycletrack.

I’m affiliated (by marriage) with Proteus bike shop in north College Park, and we do open group rides on weekends. For example, tomorrow we’re riding down to DC in the morning to get coffee at Eastern Market and meetup with another shop ride from Bikinetic in Virginia.

Those group rides can be fun ways to learn the nicest commuting routes. Good luck! -Jeff

[video=vimeo;38578601]https://vimeo.com/38578601[/video]

Hi Greenbelt! Thanks for responding! I appreciate your suggestions. Your recorded commute from Greenbelt to DC was the first thing I found on the internet during my initial search which is what led me to lurke on this forum. Then I found your other vimeo and YouTube videos. They have been very helpful in easing my fear of bike commuting to DC. Proteus was the first bike shop I called when I started looking for bikes. It’s nice to know that there are group bike rides on the weekends.I will most likely join becauase I could use the community support.

I’d be starting from the intersection of University Blvd and Adelphi road (i.e. UMUC).

[newbiehere]

@n18 90658 wrote:

This Strava heatmap for the area shows where people bike more often, but it represents only those who upload to Strava:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#12/-77.01185/38.94262/gray/bike

Also, Google Maps shows biking directions, and I think only the desktop version shows elevation profile. There are some web sites that show elevation profiles, but they are hard to use. Here is one, but you have to switch to the bike symbol first(It’s the third button from the left), then click the starting point, and any points along the route, or the final point. It doesn’t show dots where you click until you click on a second point.

Thank you very much for the links! Those maps will definitely come in handy. I have actually already tried Google Maps but part of the route that I was familiar with didn’t seem safe for me early in the morning or at night. I will download the Strava GPS app and see how that helps when I want to shorten my commute.

SN: Sorry, again, for the duplicate thread!

[Bicyclebug]

Hi,

From the university/aldephi intersection you can just go down the Stanford St hill until you connect which the NW Branch trail on your right (first part if this: http://www.strava.com/activities/122357305 ). I would continue on this trail until reaching 38th Ave and then follow Jeff’s route through Woodridge, Brookland, and into DC.

Also, if you wanted to avoid the trails (bad weather, dark), here is a neighborhood roads alternative: http://www.strava.com/activities/42604241

[PotomacCyclist]

If you were wondering about the Metropolitan Branch Trail, many people report that they use the trail without problem. However, there have been some incidents in certain sections. It’s something to consider. Riding with others or avoiding certain sections when riding alone might be a good plan.

[newbiehere]

I’m actually more concerned about the NW Branch Trail near the Lane Manor area.

[Greenbelt]

I think you’re pretty unlikely to have trouble on the Met Branch trail during regular commuting hours. I actually haven’t had any trouble late at night either. Lots of people out on that trail all the time now jogging, dog walking etc. The latest things are the mural painters and yoga people in the afternoons. It’s also pretty easy to just slow down at the start of the trail section and wait for another cyclist or two to join up with. There used to be a homeless guy who hung out near the NY Ave Metro ramp who talked to his invisible friends and enemies, but he never seemed to bother anyone — haven’t seen him in a while, I hope he’s OK.

All in all, my biggest dangers are the raging Maryland drivers on the road sections of my commute, not the stuff on the trail sections so much.

[dasgeh]

Welcome! In addition to this excellent forum, you may want to check on WABA’s Women & Bikes facebook group. It’s pretty awesome for support and ride info (I’d come here first for questions about routing and equipment, unless you have women-specific questions).

[newbiehere]

Thanks again everyone. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. I’ve always envied people who can commute long distances by bike. Hopefully, now, I can be one of those people . It’s nice to have such a supportive community.

I wish I could get on the Facebook page for WABA, but I have deactivated my Fb account for the rest of the year and would like to stay away. I just wish the Adult cycling education classes were being offered. I test rode my future bike and I’m a little rusty so I was hoping to get a refresher. Nonetheless, I will probably start riding around my neighborhood to gain some confidence and eventually join one of the Proteus’s weekend group biking events since it’s nearby.

[ebubar]

I’d suggest to maybe try some mixed mode commuting while you build up some miles? I rode my bike to metro (2 miles each way) for around 16 weeks every day to build up some confidence before going the full 15 miles on my commute. I’ve worked my way up to almost daily commuting now. Admittedly its easier in the summer when I only work 2 days a week!

[Steve O]

@newbiehere 90720 wrote:

I just wish the Adult cycling education classes were being offered. I test rode my future bike and I’m a little rusty so I was hoping to get a refresher.

The WABA web site is out of date. I am one of their instructors, and they are offering classes starting August 16 through October. Perhaps they have not advertised yet, because we instructors are still signing up, and they may need to know that they have enough to offer the class.

I think if you send an email to education@waba.org, they will be happy to bring you up to date.
This is the tentative schedule at this point. I hope I’m not getting myself in trouble by posting it here.

8/16/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Washington Middle School, Alexandria, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

8/17/2014* DATE & LOCATION TENTATIVE – City Cycling (CC) – Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

8/23/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

8/24/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/6/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/7/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/13/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Quincy Street Parking Deck, Arlington, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/14/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Quincy Street Parking Deck, Arlington, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/20/2014* City Cycling (CC) – The Blairs, Silver Spring, MD *
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/21/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/27/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

9/28/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Quincy Street Parking Deck, Arlington, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/4/2014* Adult Learn to Ride (L2R) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/5/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Alexandria, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/18/2014* Learn to Ride (L2R) – Quincy Street Parking Deck, Arlington, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/19/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Quincy Street Parking Deck, Arlington, VA*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/25/2014* Learn to Ride (L2R) – Jones Point Park, Alexandria, VA*
(Sat. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

10/26/2014* City Cycling (CC) – Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC*
(Sun. 8:45AM – 12:15PM )

[newbiehere]

Oh really?! Thanks! I will send and email soon then. Are the classes sequential or they completely independent of each other?

[Steve O]

@newbiehere 90763 wrote:

Are the classes sequential or they completely independent of each other?

There are only two classes. You already know how to ride a bike, so you should sign up for the City Cycling class.

[americancyclo]

@newbiehere 90720 wrote:

I wish I could get on the Facebook page for WABA, but I have deactivated my Fb account for the rest of the year and would like to stay away.

I’m sure you could just email Nelle Pierson

Contact Nelle Pierson at nelle@waba.org with questions and comments about the Women & Bicycles program.

They also do an e-bulletin for those (i’m assuming) not on FB. more details here:
http://www.waba.org/programs/women-bicycles/

[Author]

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