Route Advice: Minnesota Ave Metro to Capitol

[huskerdont]

@suki 141219 wrote:

This is my first time on this forum, so please excuse any etiquette faux pas. WMATA suggested you all as a resource. With east end of Orange line shutting down I’m thinking about trying to take a capital bike share bike (or I could bring my own bike on metro) from Minnesota Ave metro stop (I see there is a bikeshare station there) and riding to work on Independence Ave. Looking for advice on routing across the river on bike. I did a mapquest for walking and it sent me down Benning Ave, which I’m not sure is the best way. There is East capital, but that sounds really scary and I’m quite comfortable riding in traffic/city streets. I know my way once I’m a little past RFK but am not familiar with the territory in between Minn. metro stop and west of stadium. Thanks for advice anyone might have.

I don’t know the route so will have to leave that to others, but if you get directions using Google Maps and chose bicycle as mode, it will give you the most bike-friendly options.

[bobco85]

@suki 141219 wrote:

This is my first time on this forum, so please excuse any etiquette faux pas. WMATA suggested you all as a resource. With east end of Orange line shutting down I’m thinking about trying to take a capital bike share bike (or I could bring my own bike on metro) from Minnesota Ave metro stop (I see there is a bikeshare station there) and riding to work on Independence Ave. Looking for advice on routing across the river on bike. I did a mapquest for walking and it sent me down Benning Ave, which I’m not sure is the best way. There is East capital, but that sounds really scary and I’m quite comfortable riding in traffic/city streets. I know my way once I’m a little past RFK but am not familiar with the territory in between Minn. metro stop and west of stadium. Thanks for advice anyone might have.

Great timing, as I’m actually going to be filming for the second surge (Eastern Market to Minnesota Ave/Benning Rd) tomorrow so it’s fresh in my mind! I have 2 main options that you can take. I’m not sure where on Independence Ave you work, but this should help in at least getting you across the Anacostia River.

Both routes start the same:

• Head south on Minnesota Ave
• At the intersection of Minnesota Ave/Benning Rd, there’s a sidewalk on the south (far) side of Benning Rd that you can use to safely cross the bridge over the Anacostia Freeway
• The route shows up weird on Google Maps, but after crossing the bridge, use the crosswalk then turn left to head south on 36th St NE
• Turn right onto Dix St NE
• At the end of Dix St NE, you have 2 options to choose from:

Option #1 – Benning Rd bridge

• Turn right onto Anacostia Ave NE
• Turn left onto the Benning Rd sidewalk
• You will cross over the Anacostia River
• After crossing the river, turn left onto the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail where the Metro tracks cross overhead
• After crossing under the E Capitol Street bridge (very next bridge you approach), turn right onto the sidepath
• The sidepath runs alongside Independence Ave
• This is the route on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/PVY7MAWNrxD2

Option #2 – John Phillip Sousa bridge

• Continue straight onto the bike path
• Turn left on the bike path
• Continue on the path underneath the E Capitol St bridge
• Continue on the path past the Anacostia Park athletic buildings
• As you approach the John Phillip Sousa bridge (Pennsylvania Ave SE), turn left onto the side path leading up to it and cross it on the north side
• After crossing the bridge, turn right off the side path onto Kentucky Ave SE
• Bear right onto 15th St SE which will take you to Independence Ave
• This is the route on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/F4HbUH9akou

I hope this helps. I plan to film everything tomorrow and will have the video up sometime next week so you and others will have something more visual to reference.

[Steve O]

Go to the Bikepool page that WABA has set up on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wmatabikepool/

You may find someone who is willing to ride in with you.

[jrenaut]

@suki 141219 wrote:

(or I could bring my own bike on metro).

Note that unless you commute at strange hours, this is NOT an option. No bikes on Metro at rush hour.

Welcome to the forum!

[GovernorSilver]

@jrenaut 141228 wrote:

Note that unless you commute at strange hours, this is NOT an option. No bikes on Metro at rush hour.

Welcome to the forum!

I believe folding bikes are allowed.

One of my N+1 targets is a Brompton, and another is the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket.

[KLizotte]

I work on Independence Ave at L’Enfant Plaza and regularly ride the Anacostia River Trail after work just for fun. This is the route I use in case you work in the L’Enfant area (it also includes an extension to Arlington).

[TTPaws]

@bobco85 141224 wrote:

Great timing, as I’m actually going to be filming for the second surge (Eastern Market to Minnesota Ave/Benning Rd) tomorrow so it’s fresh in my mind! I have 2 main options that you can take. I’m not sure where on Independence Ave you work, but this should help in at least getting you across the Anacostia River.

Both routes start the same:

• Head south on Minnesota Ave
• At the intersection of Minnesota Ave/Benning Rd, there’s a sidewalk on the south (far) side of Benning Rd that you can use to safely cross the bridge over the Anacostia Freeway
• The route shows up weird on Google Maps, but after crossing the bridge, use the crosswalk then turn left to head south on 36th St NE
• Turn right onto Dix St NE
• At the end of Dix St NE, you have 2 options to choose from:

I hope this helps. I plan to film everything tomorrow and will have the video up sometime next week so you and others will have something more visual to reference.

I would recommend, that if you are going to go over the Benning street bridge, stay on D street as the trail in the park is really rough and right at the bridge there is a lot of construction for the expansion of the trail. I really like this route, I go west to East during the week. It is a great ride. If you go past RFK via parking lot 8 (South side) there are porta-potties, just in case.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Minnesota+Ave+Metro/38.8876048,-76.9769646/@38.8946529,-76.9608063,549m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m24!4m23!1m20!1m1!1s0x89b7b8937aa20ed3:0x4d21ccaa8696e5bb!2m2!1d-76.9467801!2d38.8991296!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9515281!2d38.8956318!3s0x89b7b8ed3e554e77:0x8216c19567b0190a!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9548175!2d38.8959274!3s0x89b7b8f2c220a41f:0x7fb523ac6cadacea!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9595553!2d38.8954881!3s0x89b7b8f48bffb217:0x6b4a3946fc90a62!1m0!3e1

[bobco85]

@TTPaws 141241 wrote:

I would recommend, that if you are going to go over the Benning street bridge, stay on D street as the trail in the park is really rough and right at the bridge there is a lot of construction for the expansion of the trail. I really like this route, I go west to East during the week. It is a great ride. If you go past RFK via parking lot 8 (South side) there are porta-potties, just in case.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Minnesota+Ave+Metro/38.8876048,-76.9769646/@38.8946529,-76.9608063,549m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m24!4m23!1m20!1m1!1s0x89b7b8937aa20ed3:0x4d21ccaa8696e5bb!2m2!1d-76.9467801!2d38.8991296!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9515281!2d38.8956318!3s0x89b7b8ed3e554e77:0x8216c19567b0190a!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9548175!2d38.8959274!3s0x89b7b8f2c220a41f:0x7fb523ac6cadacea!3m4!1m2!1d-76.9595553!2d38.8954881!3s0x89b7b8f48bffb217:0x6b4a3946fc90a62!1m0!3e1

I did not read this until after my ride, but I agree (thanks for the heads up, though). On Saturday when I passed through there (multiple times to get alternative routes), I saw that it was completely covered in gravel, so I can confirm this. I adjusted my route for the video to go from Dix St onto Anacostia Ave. I had to maneuver around some barricades that were set up for a night run event at RFK, but I was determined to get the proper route. There will probably be a fade as the viewer “phases through” the barricades.

[Henry]

Anna Ray, who has been working with us on the CaBi Community Partners Program, regularly rides the Benning Road Bridge and posted in the WMATA Bikepool page that she’d be willing to lead new riders across. Link to the FB group is here.

[TTPaws]

@bobco85 141277 wrote:

I did not read this until after my ride, but I agree (thanks for the heads up, though). On Saturday when I passed through there (multiple times to get alternative routes), I saw that it was completely covered in gravel, so I can confirm this. I adjusted my route for the video to go from Dix St onto Anacostia Ave. I had to maneuver around some barricades that were set up for a night run event at RFK, but I was determined to get the proper route. There will probably be a fade as the viewer “phases through” the barricades.

What sucked was that I come down the MUT by parking lot 8 to the river walk and then head west early in the morning and they still had most of the barricades up still. Made the ride dangerous. I look forward to seeing the video, i want to share it with friends when I talk about my commute.

[bobco85]

I finished the video for the route. It can be seen here: https://youtu.be/3S6Zztgjx0k

[TTPaws]

@bobco85 141738 wrote:

I finished the video for the route. It can be seen here: https://youtu.be/3S6Zztgjx0k

Nice job. I enjoyed seeing most of my commute.

As you pointed out the barricades are now gone. But the next time something special happens they will have them up again. Also a word of warning, the sidewalk from the Benning street bridge to the Anacosta Riverwalk turnoff is pretty broken up because of the trees on either sides.

[Author]

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