I am starting to commute to L Street and am looking for suggestions for a (relatively) safe connection between the Key Bridge and L Street NW. Sharing a lane with agressive BMW drivers on M Street and Pennsylvania Ave scares the dickens out of me.
I tested this route to get to my K Street office yesterday, and it is faster and not scary. With the downhill on ramp, you can pick up quite a bit of speed and you will be going almost as fast as the cars by the merge. The speed limit is 35 and the cars seemed to be going no faster than that. I stayed in the lane and the drivers were respectful.
I also waited for the light to turn red to enter the tunnel under Washington Circle. It worked exactly as Steve describes, but the cars were backed up in the tunnel and not moving too fast, so I probably could have gone without waiting for the light.
Things were slow for the three blocks between the end of the tunnel and my office. But over all, I saved about four minutes. And as Steve notes, you avoid the intersections and other nonsense on M Street.
Liz
Did you have any trouble getting over one lane near the end to get to K Street instead of the E Street ramp?
In my experience, sometimes the traffic on the Whitehurst Fwy is moving closer to 45. And I worry about the merge at the bottom of the on-ramp. It’s not entirely blind, but coming down the ramp it can be hard to see far enough back into the lane you’re merging into, esp. if someone is speeding. I tried it once on the road bike, didn’t particularly like it. Since I ride a slower bike most of the time, I avoid it.
Brendan
I did go through at rush hour, so the sheer volume of cars reduced the speeds at which they could travel. This also made the merge less problematic. Also, I had a car coming down the ramp right behind me, so we kind of merged at the same time.
I second the idea. not for the faint of heart, but not bad. I generally prefer M St, unless I’m feeling brave. and/or running late.
I commute in to town by Key Bridge and ride to L Street every day. Have for many years. For a period of a couple of months years ago I used the Whitehurst Freeway in each direction. I stopped for two reasons. One, I was worried about safety. Cars are really going fast. Two, lots of debris. I stopped after I had to change my second or third flat in the breakdown lane during rush hour.
I still ride in that way (M then Pennsylvania then L St.) every morning. Evenings, at least during daylight savings when it isn’t raining, I take K St. to the Capital Crescent Trail to the Canal path and then go over Chain Bridge. Much nicer route, and avoids the Georgetown evening congestion.
I commute in to town by Key Bridge and ride to L Street every day. Have for many years. For a period of a couple of months years ago I used the Whitehurst Freeway in each direction. I stopped for two reasons. One, I was worried about safety. Cars are really going fast. Two, lots of debris. I stopped after I had to change my second or third flat in the breakdown lane during rush hour.
Wow, hat’s off to you for braving the Whitehurst. I usually don’t mind mixing it up with cars, but at 50+mph and no shoulder/bailout to speak of for about 1 mile, I wouldn’t want to do that dance.
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