[dsilly]

@Bill Hole 61797 wrote:

Sounds like my route before I started working in North Bethesda: Piney Branch -> 13th -> Colorado -> 14th -> Columbia Rd. -> Ct. Ave. -> Fla. Ave -> P St -> through G’Town to Key Bridge. Really not a bad route, especially in the AM. PM could get a little tricky due to some narrow, crowded roads, but at least I didn’t have to stop once a week or so to fix a pinch flat or to bolt something back on after the trail rattled it off.

Yeah, very similar. I’m 3rd -> Kansas -> 13th -> Columbia Rd -18th -> Fla Ave then follow the rest. It isn’t bad in the mornings, but given the option I’d rather go through the park down to G’Town sans traffic.

@DCAKen 61804 wrote:

…It’s been quite a while since I last encountered an angry driver, but there are plenty of careless or impatient drivers.

As for the reconstruction of the trail, according to the District of Columbia FY 2013-2018 Transportation Improvement Plan, work will start in 2014 and go through 2015. If only the NPS would do any remedial work on the trail like grinding down buckled pavement caused by tree roots, filling potholes, repairing the crumbling edges, etc

Good karma for you! I get aggressively honked at/yelled at to get off the road and on the trail on the section between Garret Park Rd and E/W Hwy. pretty much at least once every weekend riding Beach. I’ve also been forced off the road and hashed the drive train on my race bike when I chose dumping into the curb over fighting for road with the car in that section (Which could be part of the problem. I was trying to be nice and not take too much road, someone tried to pass on a section they shouldn’t have. Lesson learned, no more Mr. Nice Cyclist on those sections.).

While I tend to avoid trails/MUPs (I’ve had more issues shiny-side-down problems on them due to oblivious walkers/dog walkers/families, etc. than I have on roads) it would be nice to have more stretches (if not the entire thing) redone on Beach like the tarmac they laid last summer on the short section of hill just North of Sherill…

[dsilly]

@Bill Hole 61721 wrote:

There was a lot of talk a few years ago of closing off Beach Dr. in DC to motor vehicles, but the proposal was shot down. Too bad, that would have created an ideal cycle commuting route from Silver Spring and points north.

Oh how beautiful that would have been!

As it is, I pretty much avoid Beach (at least the section between Broad Branch/Blagden intersection and East-West Highway) except when it’s closed off on weekends. Around rush hour it’s non-stop angry drivers and the exhaust seems to settle down there (especially on humid days) which makes for a singularly unpleasant experience.

It would actually add a few miles to my commute (Takoma to Arlington), but would be much more zen than my current route through Manor Park, Petworth, Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan.

[dsilly]

He’s also been very responsive via dm on Twitter, so you might try that route as well.

I agree, he’s not the righteous type, but he’s definitely and advocate of cycling and common sense (for everyone). Seems like the kind of thing he’d at least consider if he had time. If nothing else it gives him blog fodder (not that he seems to be short on that).

Oh, and hi, I’m a new guy who’s de-lurking.

ds

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