Safe routes between Arlington and Van Ness?

[Crickey7]

I don’t know Arlington, but I know the Van Ness area pretty well, and I ride from the West End downtown up that way on a regular basis. There are a few variables to identify. One is, as you noted, your comfort level on city streets. I often take Connecticut, for example, which can be very intimidating especially at the short steep hill at Florida, then across the Taft Bridge. Another is if you ride after dark and if you are especially concerned about personal safety. I mention that because another possibility is the RCP Trail, which has some issues with the condition and configuration of the path, and opinions are split on how safe it is after dark. You’d also have to climb a big hill at the end, from the Park up to Connecticut either at Porter or Tilden. There a few other options on routes. One issue is that it’s hard to avoid hills at some point on the route.

[Crickey7]

From Van Ness to Dupont Circle, in that direction, you’d be crazy not to simply take Connecticut. Crossing the Taft Bridge in the southbound direction is glorious.

[Steve O]

Here’s how I have gone to American U, which is on your way.
https://www.strava.com/activities/43031272

If I wanted to avoid Nebraska (which I probably would), I would stay straight on Glenwood (instead of turning right on Rockwood Pkwy) and then go N. on 49th St. to Van Ness. I think this is your most direct option–maybe 8-8.5 miles one way.

This route requires a bike portage from Chain Bridge to the CCT. You can avoid frogger-ing across Canal Rd. by going down the C&O canal and either taking the stairs up at the trestle or u-turning at Fletcher’s Landing. Both of those add distance.

[Crickey7]

My last thought is 35th Street in Georgetown to where it merges with Wisconsin, then Wisconsin to Idaho. Take a right on Idaho, then a left one block later on to 37th. Take 37th to Van Ness. I’ve done most of it, but not the whole thing. My only caveat on that one is that you’re on a fairly busy street going uphill for a fairly long time, with no sidewalk bailout option. On the plus side, none of the roads are very fast and it’s a straight shot. As for routes from Chain Bridge, I think you’ll find there is no way around Loughboro/Nebraska for at least part of the ride, which would not be especially pleasant if there were any appreciable amounts of traffic.

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 134085 wrote:

M As for routes from Chain Bridge, I think you’ll find there is no way around Loughboro/Nebraska for at least part of the ride, which would not be especially pleasant if there were any appreciable amounts of traffic.

Untrue. It is possible to bypass Nebraska entirely and only be on Loughboro for 1 block. Click on my link below for what I consider a very doable route with minimal traffic.
w&w – if you’d like to do a scouting ride and we can find a mutually convenient time, I’d be happy to make the trip. I have a nephew at AU, so I could make an excuse to meet him for coffee or something, too.

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 134026 wrote:

From Van Ness to Dupont Circle, in that direction, you’d be crazy not to simply take Connecticut. Crossing the Taft Bridge in the southbound direction is glorious.

Agreed that when you need to go from Van Ness to DuPont, the downhill direction on Connecticut is a good ride. And you can always get on the sidewalk on the bridge if you don’t like the lane. But, you know, there’s three of them, so one for you and two for the cars doesn’t seem unfair.

[Crickey7]

Still think you’d need to hop onto Nebraska to get to Van Ness from AU. Though I also think the sidewalk is very rideable for that stretch, which is a little less than a mile, if memory serves. The students typically walk on the North side; the South is probably uncrowded.

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 134125 wrote:

Still think you’d need to hop onto Nebraska to get to Van Ness from AU. Though I also think the sidewalk is very rideable for that stretch, which is a little less than a mile, if memory serves. The students typically walk on the North side; the South is probably uncrowded.

Not when coming from Chain Bridge. One can stay to the west of AU and go north on 49th to Van Ness St. or a parallel street before going east to Van Ness Metro area as I suggested.
@Steve O 134057 wrote:

https://www.strava.com/activities/43031272

If I wanted to avoid Nebraska (which I probably would), I would stay straight on Glenwood (instead of turning right on Rockwood Pkwy) and then go N. on 49th St. to Van Ness St.

[wheelswings]

Thanks extremely much for all the suggestions… I mapped it out and tried to follow every suggestion this morning. The recommended portions worked out well. It was great to ride on the back streets.
Other bits were more tricky. In particular,
–Getting down to Chain Bridge, I took the path labelled “Bike Detour.” It is freakin’ steep and covered with wet green algae. I wimped out and walked the bike down that small stretch. I don’t want to win my own London Bridge Prize again! Is there a more gradual alternative?
–There were still some snow piles in the walkway around Chain Bridge.
–I searched for the short-cut through the woods up to the neighborhoods (along the north side of Canal Road). No luck, so I back-tracked.
–Riding on the C&O was a snowy, slushy mess.
–I carried the bike up the steps and crossed over the pedestrian bridge. The Capital Crescent Trail was a joy! I wonder if it’s better just to take Key Bridge and CCT to get to Van Ness…? Maybe that depends on the weather/snow conditions/time of day or night. Good to know the options, in any case…
–The backstreet route worked out great. I took Manning Pl>(R)Macomb St>(R)Glenbrook>(L)49th>(R)Van Ness St.
–From Van Ness, I didn’t love riding down Connecticut Ave. to Dupont, but it wasn’t terrible either. Just lots of speeding cars, stalled vehicles in the right lane, construction, and police closures for an event at the Reagan Hilton.
Will keep trying to refine the routes and learn more options. Additional ideas always welcome. Thanks for all the suggestions!!! w&w

[huskerdont]

@wheels&wings 134280 wrote:

Thanks extremely much for all the suggestions… I mapped it out and tried to follow every suggestion this morning. The recommended portions worked out well. It was great to ride on the back streets.
Other bits were more tricky. In particular,
–Getting down to Chain Bridge, I took the path labelled “Bike Detour.” It is freakin’ steep and covered with wet green algae. I wimped out and walked the bike down that small stretch. I don’t want to win my own London Bridge Prize again! Is there a more gradual alternative?
–There were still some snow piles in the walkway around Chain Bridge.
–I searched for the short-cut through the woods up to the neighborhoods (along the north side of Canal Road). No luck, so I back-tracked.
–Riding on the C&O was a snowy, slushy mess.
–I carried the bike up the steps and crossed over the pedestrian bridge. The Capital Crescent Trail was a joy! I wonder if it’s better just to take Key Bridge and CCT to get to Van Ness…? Maybe that depends on the weather/snow conditions/time of day or night. Good to know the options, in any case…
–The backstreet route worked out great. I took Manning Pl>(R)Macomb St>(R)Glenbrook>(L)49th>(R)Van Ness St.
–From Van Ness, I didn’t love riding down Connecticut Ave. to Dupont, but it wasn’t terrible either. Just lots of speeding cars, stalled vehicles in the right lane, construction, and police closures for an event at the Reagan Hilton.
Will keep trying to refine the routes and learn more options. Additional ideas always welcome. Thanks for all the suggestions!!! w&w

I went the Chain Bridge way for years and still occasionally go that way. I would opt for Key and then out the CCT on any day when the towpath is likely to be wet. The sand that comes up from the towpath is the worst, both for the bike and for the legs (and shoes).

By bike detour, are you talking the little S-turn at the top of 41st Street (I think that’s the street number) where there’s a fenced gate to keep people from going straight down the trail? If so, your only alternative is Glebe Road. I usually take Glebe Road down in the mornings, when I can go as fast or faster than cars, but take that connector at the top of 41st on the way home. It’s a fun hill if you like that sort of thing, and I do.

[DismalScientist]

Here’s the path up to CCT from Canal Road:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9306406,-77.1119979,3a,75y,57.07h,73.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjDVj2LP33JmurV6ZHDIW3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Steve O]

@DismalScientist 134285 wrote:

Here’s the path up to CCT from Canal Road:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9306406,-77.1119979,3a,75y,57.07h,73.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjDVj2LP33JmurV6ZHDIW3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Previous discussions and descriptions may be found here and here.
Description of how to navigate Canal Road here.

I also created a Google Map with exact instructions a while back.

BTW – the wiki idea that has been thrown around recently makes sense for these sorts of things. This particular topic has been revived a few times going back to at least 2011. The Google search helps, but it requires a bit of wading through, and you don’t know if you are clicking on the most useful link or not. And selecting the exact right search term may or may not take you to the best link and most helpful information. It was even a bit of a trick for me to find my own previous posts.

[BTC_DC]

My office will be moving to Van Ness as well in a couple of Months. Current office is in Foggy Bottom, and like my existing route to Washington Circle so was just planning on building off of that. Alternatively, if much better alternatives then I would consider those as well.

Google route options were not looking that good, and I would prefer to avoid Rock Creek.

This is what I had been thinking after searching roads through Google street view.

Any comments / preferred alternatives?

[Crickey7]

I can speak only to the DC part. 34th Street/Reno Road is not advisable, just take my word on this. I’d suggest either Wisconsin or Connecticut Avenues, if traffic does not bother you, or RCP if you don’t mind going slowly. There is another route in which you would take New Hampshire to 18th, then Adams Mill Road to Harvard where you can pick up RCP at a point that isn’t as crappy. Any RCP route will have you climbing a very steep hill on Tilden that fortunately has a bike lane.

[wheelswings]

With much input from the Forum, I experimented with various routes last February when my office moved from Dupont to Van Ness. My starting point is different from yours (I’m out toward East Falls Church), though often I ride via Shirlington and the MVT. Whether approaching from Custis or MVT, I generally take Key Bridge and then get on the Crescent trail up to the staircase immediately north of Chain Bridge. Then I take an immediate right and zig-zag over to Macomb St., then take a right on Glenbrook, left on 49th, and right on Van Ness Street. Aside from a few major crossings (MacArthur, Massachusetts, etc.) and the often-heavy traffic along Van Ness St., it’s a simple and low-stress route. It’s very hilly but my clunky old mountain bike handles it just fine.
I love this commute ‘cause most of it is pretty and peaceful. But it’s a bit out-of-the-way so you might prefer a more direct route.

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