@Brother Hinoh 162744 wrote:
Hi All, New to this forum and appreciating tips on urban riding. Looking for the best route from Union Station to the Capital Crescent (to pick up C&O heading west). Will have rented touring bikes and gear. What’s the easiest and safest route from Union Station to pick up the Capital Crescent / C&O in Georgetown? Thank for any advice.
Here are some Google bike directions.
Note that the grey route they give is a route I would not normally take in its entirety during peak periods since I do not like to go through Washington Circle during afternoon rush hour. Might be okay depending on the time of day and your tolerance for traffic circles. The blue route is longer but takes you through the Mall, which may work for you given you’re asking about safe routes.
I normally do a modified grey route. After going through the pedestrian mall north of the White House (Lafayette Square*), go left over to G Street and take that to Virginia Avenue. Virginia Avenue could be a bit intimidating depending on the time of day and your proclivities. I have seen people use the sidewalk through here, though I don’t. But where Virginia Avenue hits Rock Creek Parkway is where you’d meet up with the blue route to do the last part to Canal Street (which runs into the CCT at the end).
*Note that the Secret Service will close Lafayette Square on a whim and with no notice, and if that happens, you’re screwed like everyone else. North of the White House has few good options, and south you can use the Ellipse, if it’s open, but if not, you get dumped out on Constitution Drive. In that case you could proceed on 15th (cycle track ends) to get to the blue route in the mall.
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