Working in Anacostia, where to live that makes for easy reasonable bike commute?

[brownnugen]

Ok, so now we’ve expanded our search to (I’m not sure what the neighborhood is called) the area off Telegraph Road and Wickford Drive (near the Coast Guard Base). I am factoring in schools systems now as well. In that neighborhood, they are zoned for Hayfield Elementary and Hayfield Secondary; any thoughts on that area/schools?

I still intend to bike to work and according to Google maps, it adds about a mile to the bike commute for a total of about 14 miles. What are the routes and how safe/dangerous do you think it is to get to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge?

Thanks, I feel like I am all over the place.
-Nick

[ShawnoftheDread]

@brownnugen 40419 wrote:

Ok, so now we’ve expanded our search to (I’m not sure what the neighborhood is called) the area off Telegraph Road and Wickford Drive (near the Coast Guard Base). I am factoring in schools systems now as well. In that neighborhood, they are zoned for Hayfield Elementary and Hayfield Secondary; any thoughts on that area/schools?

I still intend to bike to work and according to Google maps, it adds about a mile to the bike commute for a total of about 14 miles. What are the routes and how safe/dangerous do you think it is to get to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge?

Thanks, I feel like I am all over the place.
-Nick

Not a bad area. Route: telegraph to south kings hwy. right on Memorial, left on Rt 1 for 1 block. Rt on Beacon Hill road, down ACC’s favorite Hill all the way down to the Mt Vernon Trail.

[brownnugen]

Well, I think we’ve found a place over in Belle Haven. Provided there are no show stoppers on the home inspection, it will be our home for at least the next 4 years. I think my bike commute will only be about 11 miles and it appears access to the MVT and WW bridge will be very easy, without having to cross any major roads.

Does anyone on here live in that area?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@brownnugen 44836 wrote:

Well, I think we’ve found a place over in Belle Haven. Provided there are no show stoppers on the home inspection, it will be our home for at least the next 4 years. I think my bike commute will only be about 11 miles and it appears access to the MVT and WW bridge will be very easy, without having to cross any major roads.

Does anyone on here live in that area?

I don’t live there, but it’s a nice area with very easy trail access and close to the Wilson Bridge. Is the house on the flat ground near the river or a bit up the hill?

We have some acquaintances with a first grader in the local public school and they seem to like it.

[brownnugen]

@ShawnoftheDread 44837 wrote:

I don’t live there, but it’s a nice area with very easy trail access and close to the Wilson Bridge. Is the house on the flat ground near the river or a bit up the hill?

We have some acquaintances with a first grader in the local public school and they seem to like it.

It is closer towards Route 1, on Windsor Rd, not sure if that part is flat or hilly over there. Any tips on living in that area would be great. I am excited to hear there will be a Costco opening in that immediate area.

[Amalitza]

Windsor Road!– my previous post, when I mentioned cutting through neighborhood roads?, included part of Windsor Rd. Unless you will be living at the very east end of it (near Belle Haven Rd), you will get to ride up the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Hill:p. (that’s what I used to call it, as I tried, and didn’t always succeed, to pedal up it– I’ve been meaning to ride past there again and see if it’s as bad as I remember.) Crossing the GWP at Belle Haven to get to the MVT might be a little sketchy during morning rush hour — there’s a gas station right at the corner plus lots of cars trying to turn left that contributes to a mess– that’s where I used to cross, but wasn’t riding through at rush– but if you don’t like it there, you can always ride a short bit south and cross at Belle View. Nice area, nice houses. Out of my price range, or I might have bought there. I’m a mile or so south of you. No kids, so I can tell you nothing about schools. Personally, I avoid Richmond Highway like the plague (by bike, foot, or car) but if you’ll be commuting on bike up the MVT, you should be able to mostly avoid it as well.

[Amalitza]

I am wimpy at hills, though, so don’t let my hill names scare you.

[brownnugen]

@acl 44842 wrote:

Windsor Road!– my previous post, when I mentioned cutting through neighborhood roads?, included part of Windsor Rd. Unless you will be living at the very east end of it (near Belle Haven Rd), you will get to ride up the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Hill:p. (that’s what I used to call it, as I tried, and didn’t always succeed, to pedal up it– I’ve been meaning to ride past there again and see if it’s as bad as I remember.) Crossing the GWP at Belle Haven to get to the MVT might be a little sketchy during morning rush hour — there’s a gas station right at the corner plus lots of cars trying to turn left that contributes to a mess– that’s where I used to cross, but wasn’t riding through at rush– but if you don’t like it there, you can always ride a short bit south and cross at Belle View. Nice area, nice houses. Out of my price range, or I might have bought there. I’m a mile or so south of you. No kids, so I can tell you nothing about schools. Personally, I avoid Richmond Highway like the plague (by bike, foot, or car) but if you’ll be commuting on bike up the MVT, you should be able to mostly avoid it as well.

I would actually live towards the western end of Windsor Rd, so I guess there is no avoiding that hill you are referring to. When I google map directions from the potential house to Anacostia, it gave me the option to go on Belle Haven Rd for about .1 mile, then go north up Fort Hunt Road where it would run into the MVT. Is that preferable to having to cross the GW parkway?

[brownnugen]

@acl 44842 wrote:

Windsor Road!– my previous post, when I mentioned cutting through neighborhood roads?, included part of Windsor Rd. Unless you will be living at the very east end of it (near Belle Haven Rd), you will get to ride up the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Hill:p. (that’s what I used to call it, as I tried, and didn’t always succeed, to pedal up it– I’ve been meaning to ride past there again and see if it’s as bad as I remember.) Crossing the GWP at Belle Haven to get to the MVT might be a little sketchy during morning rush hour — there’s a gas station right at the corner plus lots of cars trying to turn left that contributes to a mess– that’s where I used to cross, but wasn’t riding through at rush– but if you don’t like it there, you can always ride a short bit south and cross at Belle View. Nice area, nice houses. Out of my price range, or I might have bought there. I’m a mile or so south of you. No kids, so I can tell you nothing about schools. Personally, I avoid Richmond Highway like the plague (by bike, foot, or car) but if you’ll be commuting on bike up the MVT, you should be able to mostly avoid it as well.

I will be more towards the Western side of Windsor Rd, so I guess I will be toughening out that hill every day. When I google map biking directions to Anacostia, by default, it takes me up Fort Hunt Rd into the MVT. Is that a good alternative to taking Belle Haven Rd to cross the GW Parkway?

[Steve]

@brownnugen 44836 wrote:

Well, I think we’ve found a place over in Belle Haven. Provided there are no show stoppers on the home inspection, it will be our home for at least the next 4 years. I think my bike commute will only be about 11 miles and it appears access to the MVT and WW bridge will be very easy, without having to cross any major roads.

Does anyone on here live in that area?

Plus there’s a great bike shop right there, Spokes Etc.

One thing to note, which I believe has been discussed a bit thru this thread, is that crossing the WW bridge likely does not do much for you in terms of a commute. From the bridge to St. E’s doesn’t provide you with a lot of great options. What most people do is ride the MVT up to 14th St. Bridge, Come down Water or M St., and cross the South Capitol St. Bridge. It adds a few miles, but provides a much better ride.

[Amalitza]

@acl 44842 wrote:

the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Hill:p. (that’s what I used to call it, as I tried, and didn’t always succeed, to pedal up it– I’ve been meaning to ride past there again and see if it’s as bad as I remember.)

And the answer is no, it is not as bad as I remember. I apparently am a better climber than I was 2 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a hill. Have fun with it!

@brownnugen 44848 wrote:

I would actually live towards the western end of Windsor Rd, so I guess there is no avoiding that hill you are referring to. When I google map directions from the potential house to Anacostia, it gave me the option to go on Belle Haven Rd for about .1 mile, then go north up Fort Hunt Road where it would run into the MVT. Is that preferable to having to cross the GW parkway?

That’s a perfectly good alternative, don’t know why I didn’t think about it. Whether it’s better or worse is probably based on your preference– would you rather ride alongside traffic for a bit (fairly heavy but low speed) or deal with the intersection and get it over with. I’ve not done either in rush hour (on a bike– I’ve done both in a car), but I would expect Fort Hunt will be the better choice, yes.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@acl 45176 wrote:

And the answer is no, it is not as bad as I remember. I apparently am a better climber than I was 2 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a hill. Have fun with it!

That’s a perfectly good alternative, don’t know why I didn’t think about it. Whether it’s better or worse is probably based on your preference– would you rather ride alongside traffic for a bit (fairly heavy but low speed) or deal with the intersection and get it over with. I’ve not done either in rush hour (on a bike– I’ve done both in a car), but I would expect Fort Hunt will be the better choice, yes.

As I remember the block of Ft Hunt along the golf course, the lane’s narrow with no shoulder and the cars tend to go faster than they should. It might still be better than crossing the parkway though.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Though I believe you can skip all of that by leaving your neighborhood by Woodmont Rd and coming out right near the north end of Ft Hunt.

[Amalitza]

@ShawnoftheDread 45189 wrote:

As I remember the block of Ft Hunt along the golf course, the lane’s narrow with no shoulder and the cars tend to go faster than they should. It might still be better than crossing the parkway though.

Narrow lanes; yes. Cars moving too fast; most of the time, but I come through there a bit before 8am and commuter traffic is heavy enough it’s not really moving that fast at that time. But there are shoulders. Narrow but usable. And at least part of the way, there is a sidewalk/sidepath.

[brownnugen]

I thought that I would follow up on this thread after living in this area for a few months now. I find myself taking Woodmont Road to Ft Hunt and then heading towards Old Town. Now, from there, I’ve been alternating between taking the MVT all the way to the 14th St Bridge into DC or taking the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I know a lot of people do not prefer taking the WW and cutting through Oxon Hill Farm, but it is not too bad of a ride. The trail is a little bumpy and not a path frequently traveled by other commuter (I am usually the only person out there at 6 am and sometimes see 1 other person at 5 pm). The worse part of that ride is turning left from the Shepard Pkwy to get to Overlook Ave. Once on Overlook Ave, I am only on the road for about 1/2 mile before cutting through Bolling AFB. One extra benefit of that route is I will occasionally stop at the track on base and run some laps before getting into work.

One of the reasons I’ve been avoiding the MVT route is because I really dislike riding on the Frederick Douglas Bridge, that thing is barely wide enough for one biker; I’ve had to stop and grab onto the side a few times when meeting another bike or jogger going the opposite way. It’s an accident waiting to happen there.

[Author]

Posts