[Blind Pilot]

@Dirt 2284 wrote:

Roosevelt Bridge is clear, but that may not take you where you need to go. A very narrow line is clearing on the boardwalks. As of this morning it was only 3-4″ wide in some spots, but it should be better after 50 degree temps today.

Thanks for that, Dirt. I’m coming up from Alexandria and work near the Ellipse, so I usually ride the MVT past the airport and up to the 14th Street Bridge. I have been going through Crystal City and the around the Pentagon on Old Jeff Davis Hwy and Boundary Drive to have a mostly rideable route. That’s what’s been bringing me over to the Memorial Bridge. Roosevelt is even further out of my way.

Like you said, hopefully things will be better after 50 degree temps and a little sun today. I may even give my regular route a go on the way home to see what kind of shape it’s in.

[Blind Pilot]

Yeah, I’ve been encountering the same thing. They have posted a detour sign (as of this AM) that directs bikes/peds the long way around the circle on the VA side and up to the northern side of the bridge. That means a few more crossings of Washington Blvd on the VA side than normal, not necessarily fun with rush hour traffic moving at speed, and then a couple extra street crossings on the DC side.

Sad thing is I’m only going up to Memorial Bridge b/c my regular commute route up the MVT to 14th St Bridge has been rendered useless by all the ice, and now this has thrown an extra obstacle in my path. Oh well, like I always say – a bad day bike commuting beats a good day commuting on the metro.

[Blind Pilot]

To the OP: I normally ride the MVT from Four Mile Run up to the 14th St Bridge. Knowing tha trail conditions would be less than ideal (how’s that for a euphamistic understatement) I’ve been riding up through Crystal City and then using this route the last few days to get over to DC (without studded tires).

As of this morning, there was only one bridge/overpass where I had to get off and walk due to ruts and ice. Of course, starting yesterday, the sidewalk on the south side of Memorial Bridge was closed, so you either have to mix it up with traffic or go the long way around the circle on the VA side.

With any luck, today’s warm weather will melt all the crap that’s on the MVT, but if it doesn’t, or in the future, you might want to consider this route.

[Blind Pilot]

High powered LED flashlight mounted on Twofish lockblock. My particular flashlight is a 220 lumen Terralux LED flashlight, which runs on 2 AA batteries. With my rechargables, I get an hour-plus on high. My evening commute this time of year is well after dark and largely on the MVT and this solution has worked for me the last two years. The flashlight cost me less than $30 incl. shipping, and the Twofish lockblock is maybe $10 w/ shipping.

If you want something more bike specific, a lot of people on bikeforums.com rave about he MagicShine light sold on geomangear.com.

[Author]

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