Secure Bike Parking at DCA?

[Tim Kelley]

I haven’t done it myself, but from what I recall from other’s experiences, you should be okay for a day trip. There are multiple parking areas and some are more out in the open than others. I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable leaving a bike there for a 3 week trip, but just for a day I would think you’d be fine.

I know Blacknell has done it before, but he’s actually out of the country right now. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[paytonc]

I’ve done it for a weekend trip, no problem. There’s a bike parking area within the daily parking garage; there are signs to it from the Mount Vernon Trail. That area is kind of out of sight (elevated a few feet from the parking level) but the garage is patrolled.

A Capital Bikeshare station would be best, though — not only because you wouldn’t have to worry about security, but also because you’d have the choice of biking one way and taking transit/cab/etc. the other way. For now, you can CaBi to Crystal City and walk about 10 minutes over to the terminal.

[Justin Antos]

The signs from the MVT lead you down a short path to the parking area in the back of the daily parking garage, which is probably your best bet – first pic below. There are also some bike racks at the ground level of the Metro station (second pic below), but they’re a bit hard to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
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[Justin Antos]

The signs from the MVT lead you down a short path to the parking area in the back of the daily parking garage – first pic below. There are also some bike racks at the ground level of the Metro station (second pic below), but they’re a bit hard to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
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[hencio]

Thanks for the replies. The photos are very helpful, but I am undecided as to what the best option is. The garage looks a little shielded for my tastes. While Metro looks like it may get too much traffic, I’m leaning that way.

[Tim Kelley]

FYI–since this thread, I have parked my bike at DCA.

There is super close parking right here: http://goo.gl/maps/qM3de

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[dasgeh]

How long did you leave it for? How securely was it locked (e.g. quick release seat post? extra lock?)

[Tim Kelley]

@dasgeh 59689 wrote:

How long did you leave it for? How securely was it locked (e.g. quick release seat post? extra lock?)

It was a beat up single speed conversion from the 1970s that I parked for 2 or 3 nights during the middle of the week last winter. Front wheel was quick release, but everything else was bolted down, so probably just a u-lock through the frame and front wheel.

[viennabiker]

@dasgeh 59689 wrote:

How long did you leave it for? How securely was it locked (e.g. quick release seat post? extra lock?)

I’ve used this bike rack at DCA several times, each time for several days. As others have said, there is a sign from the MVT. I didn’t think it was hard to find, but the trail winds a bit through some service areas, under a tunnel, and then into the garage. There have always been some other bikes there. I never saw anything that looked stripped. I’ve used a U and cable lock, but most of the other bikes just seemed to have a cable lock.

Only problem? You arrive just a little bit–well sweaty. (For me it’s about a 13 mile ride.) Not a big issue, but it’s enough that when I go through security, I set off the scanner. Poor TSA guy has to pat me down each time.

But airports are such a hassle, I arrive in a much more relaxed frame of mind for air travel. And that makes it worth it for me.

[eminva]

I rode my bike there in May and parked at the racks in Justin’s first photo. I left it just two or three nights. I used a u-lock but nothing else. I took my low end mountain bike (with the lowest of the low end saddle, since replaced) and there were nicer bikes parked at the racks so I wasn’t too worried.

I came from work downtown so I wasn’t too sweaty. The hard part was fitting all my stuff in my messenger bag — that bike doesn’t have a rack and I was too lazy to move one from another bike.

Liz

[Mark Blacknell]

@viennabiker 59720 wrote:

Only problem? You arrive just a little bit–well sweaty. (For me it’s about a 13 mile ride.) Not a big issue, but it’s enough that when I go through security, I set off the scanner. Poor TSA guy has to pat me down each time.

That’s an excellent point to note (and reason to take it easy on the way in). I’ve done the same, but when I explain that it’s because I rode my bike there, they’ve sometimes just skipped the patdown. (And when they don’t, well . . . it never goes well.)

In addition to the spaces noted above, it’s also possible to park right next to the doors at the southern end of B Terminal. It’s just outside of the roof line (of course), but it’s a very visible area – it’s my preferred spot. (My least preferred spot is the one just off the trail at the northern end, among employee parking. I’m sure that most people working at DCA are very nice people, but with the high correlation between airport baggage handlers/TSA agents and criminality . . . )

Finally, this is the piece I wrote about parking at National. There’s a very good map linked in the comments – http://clarendon.patch.com/groups/opinion/p/planes-trains-and-bicycles

[Nadine]

@Justin Antos 14086 wrote:

The signs from the MVT lead you down a short path to the parking area in the back of the daily parking garage – first pic below. There are also some bike racks at the ground level of the Metro station (second pic below), but they’re a bit hard to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
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Can you help me find this bike parking lot? I think it’s the one in your first picture I’m looking for. It’s bike parking lot #6 in photo, which shows it right next to the parking lot for terminal C. http://www.flyreagan.com/sites/default/files/dca_bike_racks_0.pdf

I was there today (by car.) I went to where it looked like it was, on the photo, and nothing. Trees. If I had come by bike I would have ended up locking it to a pole — which I’m sure would be frowned upon. I was just meeting a friend for breakfast who had a 2 hour layover at the right time — but I’d love to be able to go by bike, both to meet a friend for breakfast and to fly out of town for the weekend. I’m sure the bike ride would make the plane travel so much better — and I’d have a ride home on the way back! But the idea of having to scramble to find the parking lot is a deal breaker.

I’ve looked at pictures, but none show the bike parking lots in enough context that I might be able to find them. I see assurances that if I come from the trail it will be obvious — so I’ll try to make time to detour there sometime when I’m on the trail. However, it seems like the kind of thing I ought to be able to find out via computer. Any help would be appreciated!!!

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