Route Recommendations for Ballston to L’Enfant Plaza Commute

[Mikey]

Normally I would recommend Maine to 7th and up 7th to L’Enfant plaza but the construction around the waterfront is an absolute mess. I would just go 14th street bridge around E basin drive sidewalk around to 15th street, then right turn on Independence and down independence to L’Enfant

Independence isn’t too bad in the morning as long as you are west of 15th street. You could also take Custis to Key bridge, to M street to PA ave (not too bad in the morning) around Washington Circle and PA to white house, down 15th street to PA ave again, then right on 7th. You have a lot of options.

[bentbike33]

@Mikey 113212 wrote:

I would just go 14th street bridge around E basin drive sidewalk around to 15th street, then right turn on Independence and down independence to L’Enfant.

I agree with this route, mostly. I take the lane on E. Basin Drive and 15th (a.k.a Raoul Wallenberg PL), and on Independence all the way to 7th. But be prepared to sprint down Independence if you keep the lane. A more leisurely option recommended by Venerated Senior Member dbb is go an additional block north to Jefferson Dr. on the edge of the Mall before heading east.

[dbb]

Here are some photos of an alternate route I recommend. This has the advantage of avoiding much of the tourist traffic around the tidal basin.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?1949-Getting-to-the-Case-Bridge-%28SW-Freeway%29-over-the-Fish-Market

After you come across the 14th Street Bridge, turn left on East Basin Drive at the CaBi station in front of the Jefferson (heading towards the river). Turn left on Ohio (heading downstream) and then left again on Buckeye (just past the Park Police building). About midway to the Washington Channel, turn left and get on the sidewalk before you get to I 395. This will be a bike/ped lane on the Case Bridge which will take you over the Washington Channel. Just past the fish market (you will pass over it but close enough to smell it) there will be a switchback ramp on your right that will take you to Banneker Park. If you turn left you will be heading towards the supreme headquarters, US Postal Service at elephant plaza.

[kwarkentien]

@bentbike33 113217 wrote:

I agree with this route, mostly. I take the lane on E. Basin Drive and 15th (a.k.a Raoul Wallenberg PL), and on Independence all the way to 7th. But be prepared to sprint down Independence if you keep the lane. A more leisurely option recommended by Venerated Senior Member dbb is go an additional block north to Jefferson Dr. on the edge of the Mall before heading east.

I also recommend going up to Jefferson. I am a very confident (read “tough bitchy biker broad”) rider but I’ve only ridden east down Independence from 15th Street at AM rush hour once. In that time, I had nearly half a dozen close calls from various and sundry @$$holes so I quickly learned that the one block offset makes for a much more enjoyable ride. BTW–If it’s not rush hour, I have no issues with Independence.

[IlPirata]

Many thanks for the replies. For those commuting to L’Enfant Plaza, where do you keep your bikes during the day? Are there safe, public racks?

[dasgeh]

I would skip the extra mileage and hassle of going down to the 14th Street Bridge, especially during Cherry Blossom season, and instead take the Custis –> TR Island parking lot –> go straight on the wooden bridge –> Teddy Roosevelt (I66) bridge –> turn right on Virginia Ave –> R on 19th St –> L on the sidewalk on the Mall side of Constitution –> R on 15th St –> L on Madison (on the way home you’d take Jefferson) I’m sure you can manage from there.

The TR Bridge sidepath is narrow, and some people don’t like riding on it, but I’m a very conservative rider and don’t mind it at all. Passing folks requires slowing to a near stop, but you rarely have to pass anyone, and the rest of the route is worth that little slow down.

[Kolohe]

another possibility to to cross the river upstream at either Roosevelt (via Custis or Wilson Blvd through the intersection of Doom) or Memorial (via Wilson to Ft Cass trail* though Iwo Jima and at grade GW Parkway crossings) then through the Mall to L’enfant. It may be a little shorter, if I’m reading google maps right, but with the obvious disadvantages of worse intersections than the 14th bridge crossing. Plus in the morning, ped traffic anywhere near the mall or the Tidal Basin isn’t really a problem (even this time of year), but the afternoon commute is a whole different ballgame.

*my name for the new Rt 50 south side bike lane

[dasgeh]

@Kolohe 113263 wrote:

Memorial (via Wilson to Ft Cass trail* though Iwo Jima and at grade GW Parkway crossings)

Memorial is also a good option, especially if you’re in South Ballston. Though I don’t know why you’d ride on Wilson. Just get into the neighborhood, then take 5th St N to Pershing (or 5th to 7th to Pershing if you’d like to skip a small hill), then get on the new trail at 50, go through Iwo Jima, take the 110 trail, then use Memorial Drive and its sidepaths to get to the bridge (there’s only one grade crossing on that route, and it’s not of the GW Pkwy). If you do this, I’d stay south of the reflecting pool, then take the sidewalk along Independence — the sidewalk south of the Monument is narrow and gets crowded (ok, it all narrows and gets crowded this way, but closer to the Monument is worse).

@Kolohe 113263 wrote:

*my name for the new Rt 50 south side bike lane

nice

[Emm]

@bentbike33 113217 wrote:

I agree with this route, mostly. I take the lane on E. Basin Drive and 15th (a.k.a Raoul Wallenberg PL), and on Independence all the way to 7th. But be prepared to sprint down Independence if you keep the lane. A more leisurely option recommended by Venerated Senior Member dbb is go an additional block north to Jefferson Dr. on the edge of the Mall before heading east.

I work by L’Enfant. Jefferson has the added benefit of having wayyy less stop lights and almost no traffic in the AM, so you can race (yourself, a squirrel, or whatever else you find)! It’s totally worth going the extra block north for this.

When I lived in Rosslyn I would take Memorial bridge in the AM, go around the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument, to Jefferson Ave to 7th. It was by far the prettiest ride EVER. On the way home though this route is tough due to tourists, so I took Madison or Independence, to 15th, to E. basin, to 14th st bridge to the MVT/Custis. It’s longer, but much safer.

As far as bike racks go–check to see if your building has bike parking in the garage. My current one does, so I use that. I’m moving buildings soon, and am stuck parking outside then. The security officers recommended just parking it as close to the door as possible so they can see anyone messing with the bikes, or parking across the street at a building that has above ground, but covered parking. Make sure to use a u lock with the added cable for securing your front wheel.

[dbb]

@IlPirata 113259 wrote:

Many thanks for the replies. For those commuting to L’Enfant Plaza, where do you keep your bikes during the day? Are there safe, public racks?

Most garages have bike parking of some sort, often limited to employees. HUD has a bike cage under one of the wings of the building. I understand GSA has parking in the garage. When I was exiled for a few months last year for space upgrades, we were in a nearby building with a commercial lot with some wheel bender racks that were available at no cost.

[jrenaut]

GSA does have parking in the garage, but it requires a badge for the building to access it. If anyone is in the GSA building (7th and D SW) and has questions about that, feel free to PM me.

[rcannon100]

At 12th & D SW, where the FCC is located, are commercial lots with bicycle parking. It is covered and it is behind the parking attendant.

[Kolohe]

@dasgeh 113271 wrote:

Memorial is also a good option, especially if you’re in South Ballston. Though I don’t know why you’d ride on Wilson. Just get into the neighborhood, then take 5th St N to Pershing (or 5th to 7th to Pershing if you’d like to skip a small hill), then get on the new trail at 50, go through Iwo Jima, take the 110 trail, then use Memorial Drive and its sidepaths to get to the bridge (there’s only one grade crossing on that route, and it’s not of the GW Pkwy). If you do this, I’d stay south of the reflecting pool, then take the sidewalk along Independence — the sidewalk south of the Monument is narrow and gets crowded (ok, it all narrows and gets crowded this way, but closer to the Monument is worse).[/quote]

fair point on Pershing, I take it half the time myself. My mental model of “Ballston” defaults to north of Wilson, though that’s not what the maps say (anymore) because having grown up in the area, I consider everything south and/or west either “Buckingham”, “Bluemont”, “Alcova Heights”. The marginal advantage of Fairfax Dr/Wilson is, eastbound, it is all completely flat or downhill, while Pershing has that dip and light at the Lyon Park. also, and because of the relative newness of the improvements of section of Pershing between Wash Blvd and Ft Meyer, and the fact that Pershing from Glebe to Wash Blvd is still just an unmarked sharrow, my instincts are still with ‘the high road’.

Also, you’re technically correct (the best kind of correct ) on the at grade crossings between Memorial Drive and the bridge, but with both sides of Memorial circle have either cars whizzing onto the bridge or whizzing off the bridge (and three full lanes on the northside, I feel it’s a distinction without a difference. (and at least now the GW parkway crossing immediately off the MVT has the blinking yellow light thingy)

[bobco85]

@dasgeh 113271 wrote:

Memorial is also a good option, especially if you’re in South Ballston. Though I don’t know why you’d ride on Wilson. Just get into the neighborhood, then take 5th St N to Pershing (or 5th to 7th to Pershing if you’d like to skip a small hill), then get on the new trail at 50, go through Iwo Jima, take the 110 trail, then use Memorial Drive and its sidepaths to get to the bridge (there’s only one grade crossing on that route, and it’s not of the GW Pkwy). If you do this, I’d stay south of the reflecting pool, then take the sidewalk along Independence — the sidewalk south of the Monument is narrow and gets crowded (ok, it all narrows and gets crowded this way, but closer to the Monument is worse).

I live in the Buckingham neighborhood, and I strongly agree with this route. It is my preferred route into DC: Pershing -> Route 50 trail (I like the “Fort Cass Trail” name) -> Iwo Jima -> 110 trail -> Memorial Bridge

@Kolohe 113296 wrote:

fair point on Pershing, I take it half the time myself. My mental model of “Ballston” defaults to north of Wilson, though that’s not what the maps say (anymore) because having grown up in the area, I consider everything south and/or west either “Buckingham”, “Bluemont”, “Alcova Heights”. The marginal advantage of Fairfax Dr/Wilson is, eastbound, it is all completely flat or downhill, while Pershing has that dip and light at the Lyon Park. also, and because of the relative newness of the improvements of section of Pershing between Wash Blvd and Ft Meyer, and the fact that Pershing from Glebe to Wash Blvd is still just an unmarked sharrow, my instincts are still with ‘the high road’.

Since people recognize Ballston way more often than Buckingham, I’ve always told people that I live “near Ballston in the Buckingham neighborhood.” Also, I’ve always found Pershing to be a useful and bike-friendly route that I can ride comfortably away from the door zone of parked cars while still moving to the right should a car want to pass. One of the reasons that Trader Joe’s in Clarendon has so much of my grocery money is the fact that it’s easy to use Highland to/from Pershing to go directly to/from the store. That said, the light at Fillmore sure has a mind of its own, though, as it sometimes causes me to miss the light at Washington Blvd (and lose my momentum from the previous hill with minor grumbling).

[dasgeh]

@Kolohe 113296 wrote:

The marginal advantage of Fairfax Dr/Wilson is, eastbound, it is all completely flat or downhill, while Pershing has that dip and light at the Lyon Park. also, and because of the relative newness of the improvements of section of Pershing between Wash Blvd and Ft Meyer, and the fact that Pershing from Glebe to Wash Blvd is still just an unmarked sharrow, my instincts are still with ‘the high road’.

That’s why I like 5th: none of the dips of Pershing. You can avoid Pershing west of Washington Blvd altogether by using 7th and salmoning/using the sidewalk for that last half block. WHY ISN’T THERE A CONTRA-FLOW BIKE LANE THERE? (I used to live near there and was always super annoyed by that…) Plus, those neighborhood streets have basically 1/10 of the traffic of Wilson/Pershing, and no lights (though stop signs…)

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