route help

[bobco85]

@Tania 123730 wrote:

Thinking of biking to PT tomorrow am rather than driving (PT is a friend and he won’t care if I show up all sweaty). Appt is at 7am although I do have lights.

Going from Falls Church to 5115 Leesburg Pike (Rte 7 and George Mason, Shirlington-ish area?). I was thinking of taking W&OD to George Mason and then heading south on George Mason but not sure about crossing Route 7 (even at 6:45am when you’d think traffic would be light).

Any other options?

That route sounds pretty good (FYI that specific area is Skyline but is technically part of Baileys Crossroads). I commute the opposite way from Alexandria using George Mason -> W&OD sometimes a little later than that (passing through there around 7:15), and the road isn’t too bad as long as you have some confidence with slowly climbing hills in 2 lanes of traffic unless you go way out of your way using a complicated list of directions.

If you choose the route you described, there is a hill that cannot be avoided when you cross Columbus, and it is uphill to get to Route 7. Coming up to the intersection of Route 7/George Mason, I recommend taking the right straight lane. From there, you can drift to the right to use the crosswalk after getting past the right turners who will right hook you, then use the sidewalk for 2 blocks to access the Skyline Sport & Health (I’m guessing that’s your destination) at the intersection of Jefferson St/Route 7.

Alternatively, you could use W&OD -> trail along Long Branch (passes the nature center) -> Carlin Springs Rd -> Columbia Pike -> Jefferson St -> cross Route 7 as shown on this map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Falls+Church,+VA/5115+Leesburg+Pike,+Falls+Church,+VA+22041/@38.8648973,-77.162711,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m24!4m23!1m15!1m1!1s0x89b64b6e7a4663ad:0x6e536688973d9759!2m2!1d-77.1710914!2d38.882334!3m4!1m2!1d-77.1369052!2d38.8778709!3s0x89b7b442a3a6414b:0x2a886757b4188c0!3m4!1m2!1d-77.1268046!2d38.8582525!3s0x89b7b474c3a60a99:0xa83a1686a1753b43!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b3f1bf0406d5:0xb5e8bd61e523a83e!2m2!1d-77.1188393!2d38.8447982!3e1
You would still have to climb a hill on Jefferson St.

For fun, should you want to avoid any hill climbing in traffic, try this route (I use it when I have a bike trailer loaded with stuff): https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Falls+Church,+VA/Skyline+Sport%26Health,+5115+Leesburg+Pike,+Falls+Church,+VA+22041,+United+States/@38.8676057,-77.1531409,14z/data=!4m29!4m28!1m20!1m1!1s0x89b64b6e7a4663ad:0x6e536688973d9759!2m2!1d-77.1710914!2d38.882334!3m4!1m2!1d-77.1354303!2d38.8567805!3s0x89b7b477c165be3d:0xdfcf399aa2c1f784!3m4!1m2!1d-77.1324356!2d38.8519715!3s0x89b7b3896c17bdbf:0x6a080241e842debb!3m4!1m2!1d-77.1315727!2d38.8494501!3s0x89b7b38ea4543ca9:0x7f0c7903a5f1e7b8!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b3f1c0f3b265:0xb8e48495a9d44059!2m2!1d-77.118691!2d38.844501!3e1

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[scoot]

George Mason is flatter than the alternatives (except maybe bobco85’s “fun” route), but you do have to climb a moderate hill in traffic marked with sharrows. You could instead exit W&OD at Columbia Pike and cut through the Columbia Forest neighborhood. The hill on 11th Street is steeper than the one on George Mason, but obviously has a lot less traffic.

Or you could exit in Glencarlyn Park and take S Greenbrier to Columbia Pike, and then go up S Jefferson Street. This is the most direct route but also the hilliest, and getting across the Pike to Jefferson could be tricky.

[dasgeh]

Note that George Mason south of the W&OD goes right by Wakefield HS, and school just started. Shouldn’t be a deal killer, just be ready for parent- and student-drivers.

[Tania]

As long as we’re not talking gravel hills, I’m good. I’m graveled out for now.

Are Carlin Springs and Columbia Pike ok on a bike? I drive that way a few times a week and…eeesh. Low speed limit but traffic can be aggressive.

[baiskeli]

You could also take the W&OD past G. Mason to Walter Reed and turn right, then right on Dinwiddie and then left to Rt. 7. I think Walter Reed has a trail parallel to it most of the way. Also, it gives you the excuse to say “Dinwiddie” out loud.

[bobco85]

@Tania 123744 wrote:

As long as we’re not talking gravel hills, I’m good. I’m graveled out for now.

Are Carlin Springs and Columbia Pike ok on a bike? I drive that way a few times a week and…eeesh. Low speed limit but traffic can be aggressive.

Luckily there is no gravel on any of the routes mentioned, and should you take that route, the Columbia Pike section will be easy because you’ll be with turning traffic off Carlin Springs.

I would only recommend taking George Mason Dr (after the bike lane ends), Jefferson St, or Carlin Springs Rd if you have at least a moderate level of confidence in riding with traffic on 2 lane roads with hills. If not, you can use the sidewalks.

[vern]

@Tania 123744 wrote:

As long as we’re not talking gravel hills, I’m good. I’m graveled out for now.

Are Carlin Springs and Columbia Pike ok on a bike? I drive that way a few times a week and…eeesh. Low speed limit but traffic can be aggressive.

I work in Skyline one day per week so I know the issues well. I now take WOD to Columbia Pike to Jefferson. There is a light at Rt. 7 and Jefferson to get you across safely. There is little traffic on Columbia Pike at that time of morning in the direction you will be headed – most traffic is headed in the opposite direction. You can always bail to the sidewalk if the traffic becomes irksome.

[Tania]

All great advice and very much appreciated.

I’ll be down that way tonight so I’ll scope out some of the routes. I’m pretty comfortable on the road but that time of morning (just coming sunlight) and sleepy drivers means I might think twice. If I take Dinwiddie (Me: “Dinwiddie!” Co-worker: “What?” Me: “Nevermind…”) then I’m only on GM for half a mile or so.

Of course, when I’m coming back to the W&OD after my appointment it will be full-on rush hour.

[Tania]

vern;123747 wrote:

i work in skyline one day per week so i know the issues well. I now take wod to columbia pike to jefferson. There is a light at rt. 7 and jefferson to get you across safely. There is little traffic on columbia pike at that time of morning in the direction you will be headed – most traffic is headed in the opposite direction. You can always bail to the sidewalk if the traffic becomes irksome.

thanks!!!!

[Steve O]

@bobco85 123733 wrote:

Alternatively, you could use W&OD -> trail along Long Branch (passes the nature center) -> Carlin Springs Rd -> Columbia Pike -> Jefferson St -> cross Route 7 as shown on this map:
You would still have to climb a hill on Jefferson St.

You can avoid Carlin Springs (unpleasant for biking) and Columbia Pike (unpleasant for biking) altogether by taking a different trail out of the Four-Mile Run stream valley. It’s a steep little climb, but you get to stay on back streets.
(map)
You come out on Columbia Pike directly across from Jefferson. Push the walk button and cross straight onto Jefferson, which you can then take right to your destination.

Note: When you come out of the trail, it goes like this:
Up Greenbrier
Right on 7th
Left on Harrison
Left on 8th
IMMEDIATE RIGHT into the back of the apartment complex alongside a chain link fence. (right in front of the silver car in this pic). This does not look like a street; it looks like a long driveway.

Wind through the apartments and down the steep hill towards Columbia Pike
Before your reach the Pike turn right into the back parking lot of the used-to-be bank
Go out the other side of the parking lot, and you are directly across from Jefferson.

[Steve O]

@Tania 123748 wrote:

Of course, when I’m coming back to the W&OD after my appointment it will be full-on rush hour.

Do my route in reverse and you can avoid all the major roads to get back to the W&OD.

[Tania]

You rock Steve. I don’t care what Cannon says about you.

[AFHokie]

I live on that stretch of Columbia Pike. I recommend George Mason over Carlin Springs & Jefferson. With the traffic, Carlin Springs is not a road I’d recommend to anyone. Additionally, between the two routes, I’d rather climb the hill up GM than Jefferson.

[baiskeli]

Nice suggestions, everyone, but only one of ours involves saying “Dinwiddie!” Just sayin’.

[consularrider]

@baiskeli 123763 wrote:

Nice suggestions, everyone, but only one of ours involves saying “Dinwiddie!” Just sayin’.

And it is so much more fun to climb!

[Author]

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