Route advice – Arl Village into DC (Metro Center)

[Alcova cyclist]

@Tania 147999 wrote:

But ugh. Memorial Bridge. My least favorite.

@Tania 147982 wrote:

Any tips on de-stressing the Memorial Bridge part? Even just getting to the Lincoln Monument annoys me.

What you find stressful about Memorial Bridge? It’s been part of my regular commute for a couple of years and doesn’t seem bad to me at all. Maybe I don’t want to know because then it’ll bother me too.

I will grant that the national mall is a mess in the afternoons with tourists (I switch routes to avoid it in the PM), and I guess the crosswalks on both approaches to the bridge could be designed a little better, but I find traffic is generally quite deferential to bikes in the crosswalks. The sidewalk on Memorial isn’t in the greatest shape, but it’s super wide – even the “temporary” wooden bridges are wider than the 14th street bridge bike path.

Would also add that if you’re eligible for one of the Fort Myer access badges, that would save you some time and a lot of hassle comapred to crossing 50 and riding on the so called “bike path” along 50 — that stretch would be my primary stressor on your current “memorial bridge” route.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

Getting to and crossing memorial bridge clearly sucks, much sympathy. I did it for 3 years before moving south of the pentagon row area and giving up on it this past winter when the 110 sidewalks became a series of 3ft ice/dirt wall moguls and the bridge was closed off so they could install 4 inch tall curbs over a random number of the deteriorating sidewalk joints. I used to avoid the 14th st bridge because of how narrow it feels but I’ve never had a problem or scary moment on it with or without tourists this past year. The LBJ Grove route past the Marina is pretty good most times and it cuts off a few of the black diamond road crossings.

[Tania]

@Alcova cyclist 148025 wrote:

What you find stressful about Memorial Bridge? It’s been part of my regular commute for a couple of years and doesn’t seem bad to me at all. Maybe I don’t want to know because then it’ll bother me too.

The crossings at the approach (heading west, right after leaving the Lincoln) and then right there at the cemetery entrance make me nervous. It’s likely all because I’m not used to it – I take TR bridge most days and I’m always like “what? It’s totally fine!” when people mention how narrow it is and the low guardrail (okay but seriously, it’s NBD).

It’s the the same with the Whitehurst Freeway entrance on Key and then exiting off the sidewalk into the traffic lanes in Georgetown. I figure most drivers either don’t see or are actively trying to kill me.

Just haven’t ridden Memorial enough to develop that cyclist sixth sense about particular spots.

I was offered a ride home last night so I didn’t ride but I’ll be exploring all the options.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

My regular route.

Inbound cross 50 (on either Filmore or Irving) and go all the way to Pershing, then Pershing to the Ft. Cass Trail at Ft. Myer. That let’s you swap ugly 50 for more Filmore and low traffic/bike lane Pershing. At Memorial Bridge, you just have to get used to the murder lane at the crosswalks (where the near lane yields to you, but the far lane doesn’t see you and blows right through).

Outbound, after Memorial Circle and near the entrances to the Metro you have to be doubly cautious about cars coming up from 110 and GWP and making the right to go to DC. All of them roll the stop while locked into only looking left. The bastards never look right. Big dumb animals.

[Author]

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