Papal Visit – Alternative routes due to road closures

[lordofthemark]

@Emm 124375 wrote:

I was referring to the 14th st bridge to Jefferson memorial closure to bikes that Burns referenced–that area on Wed appears as restricted, so it looks like bikes can’t use it. I could do Maine Ave, but it doesn’t help much.

North of Independence. The bridge itself, and around the Memorial to Maine Ave looks open?

[Emm]

@lordofthemark 124378 wrote:

North of Independence. The bridge itself, and around the Memorial to Maine Ave looks open?

hm, I read the map that around the memorial on Wed was going to be restricted too, which is my main route to work. maybe I read it wrong though? http://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-Papal-Visit-White-House-Closures-and-Detours.pdf

[lordofthemark]

@Emm 124379 wrote:

hm, I read the map that around the memorial on Wed was going to be restricted too, which is my main route to work. maybe I read it wrong though? http://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-Papal-Visit-White-House-Closures-and-Detours.pdf

Oh I had not seen that map. It looks to me like they mean the motor vehicle lanes coming down from (and going upto) the bridge, and then the general travel lanes on 14th, not the shared use path around the memorial and to Maine which is what I use – I don’t take the lane till after the Fish Market. If they won’t let me bike there, I will walk my bike.

[dasgeh]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/09/16/biking-will-be-better-than-driving-during-popes-visit-but-not-without-challenges/

Doesn’t sound like bikes will really be banned. They always say they will be, but then they’re not.

[GovernorSilver]

@lordofthemark 124372 wrote:

Welcome to my world

Actually it should be better than normal – I assume therewill be less traffic than usual on Maine, so it may just be wonderful. Or will there be more with the other streets closed?

I disliked that route because of the sharp curves of the Case bridge MUP as it descends into L’Enfant Plaza, as well as construction obliterating the bike lane on Maine, but at least I know where to go now in case I’m forced away from my usual route.

[lordofthemark]

@GovernorSilver 124383 wrote:

I disliked that route because of the sharp curves of the Case bridge MUP as it descends into L’Enfant Plaza, as well as construction obliterating the bike lane on Maine, but at least I know where to go now in case I’m forced away from my usual route.

I don’t generally do the Case bridge either. I go around the Jefferson, cross Ohio Drive in the crosswalk just before Ohio crosses Washington Channel, ride that sidepath to Maine, make the sharp right to the sidepath on Maine, to the Fish Market, then take the lane on Maine (horrible pavement and all) to left onto 7th then immediate right on the Eye Street Lanes. You can get to 4th from there, if that does you any good.

[KWL]

It appears the Pope is staying away from Georgetown (those heretic Jesuits) so I’m good keeping to the Virginia side of the Potomac and skirting any of the kerfuffle. http://pope.dc.gov/

[PotomacCyclist]

CaBi will run special CaBi-only bike corrals at locations near the parade, the speech at the Capitol and the Mass at Catholic University.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/09/16/biking-will-be-better-than-driving-during-popes-visit-but-not-without-challenges/

Capital Bikeshare will set up bike corrals near three of the public events where thousands of people are expected, providing unlimited bike parking, said Kimberly Lucas, bicycle program specialist with the District Department of Transportation.

Corrals will be at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW from 7 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 23 for the popemobile parade, and on Thursday, Sept. 24 for the event at the U.S. Capitol. On Wednesday afternoon, a corral will be at 10th and Monroe streets NE, from noon to 6 p.m., for those attending the outdoor Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Expect that other stations might be closed during the visit. Rebalancing will also be affected.

[chris_s]

WABA has a blog post up now. Great breakdown with specific detour guidance for cyclists.

[GovernorSilver]

I posted this question to WABA’s FB post:

I see 15th St by the Washington Monument will be closed Wednesday but has it been confirmed for sure that bicycles won’t be allowed on it?

WABA’s responses:

Yes, we confirmed with DDOT and MPD that the closed roads are also closed to bicyclists.

We confess we were hoping for another inauguration style impromptu open streets event, but no such luck this time.

I’m going to ride the route that lordofthemark posted as an alternative. It’s not going to add that much more time to my commute compared to my regular morning ride.

[PotomacCyclist]

This is a Google Map interactive overlay: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/a-map-of-dc-road-closures-for-the-popes-visit.php

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 124521 wrote:

This is a Google Map interactive overlay: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/a-map-of-dc-road-closures-for-the-popes-visit.php

They show 15th St NW between H and Maine as being closed both Tuesday and Wednesday.

WABA shows it being closed only for Wednesday.

DDOT says this:

The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning between 9 pm and 10:30 pm Tuesday, September 22 through 12 pm on Wednesday, September 23:

15th Street NW between H Street NW and Maine Avenue SW
17th Street NW between Pennsylvania and Independence Avenues
Constitution Avenue between 23rd and 12th Streets NW

They do agree on what’s closed on Thursday, which is the other bit that impacts my morning route, which is normally up Louisiana to N. Capitol St. WABA at least suggests alternate bike routes.

[Crickey7]

It’s still a bit unclear as to whether bicycles will be allowed on the closed portion of Massachusetts Ave. by the Vatican Embassy, shown in this morning’s paper with a cyclist cruising past (not me, though).

[americancyclo]

@PotomacCyclist 124521 wrote:

This is a Google Map interactive overlay: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/a-map-of-dc-road-closures-for-the-popes-visit.php

So I can ride from Georgetown in to the pedestrian mall behind the white house, but i can’t leave?

[americancyclo]

Listening to NPR this morning, I heard the phrase “crush of the human flesh on metro” to describe the horror that will be metro this week. – best #papocolaypse quote i’ve heard. and a pretty good argument to get on a bike #bikedc

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