[Oh4dog]

@scoot 190935 wrote:

I live near Penrose Square (close to Ft Myer Hatfield Gate) and I used to commute to Fort Belvoir. Here are two Google Maps links corresponding to my favorite bicycling routes from my morning (southbound) and evening (northbound) commute. If you are reasonably comfortable with road riding and don’t mind adding one extra hill climb each direction, you might like these alternatives.

My destination was South Post Belvoir, but I much preferred to ride down from Telegraph Gate and cross on the Gunston Rd bridge rather than to follow MVT to 235 around to Walker Gate. The Beulah Street bike lanes are way more pleasant than Highway 235 at rush hour …

If I were riding the opposite directions, I would have made a few different choices, because traffic patterns vary a lot based on time of day. For instance, the short stretch of Franconia Road between Van Dorn and Beulah: tons of fun to ride full speed westbound at 6:15am, but a parking lot eastbound during evening rush hour. So I would just squeak through that mess on the sidewalk on my way home. The subsequent left turn into Brookland was a big challenge too, usually I stuck with the sidewalk east of Van Dorn and then waited for the Edison HS traffic signal to stop Franconia traffic so I could get across it more easily.

I strongly agree with dbb’s advice: do some test rides on the weekend before trying it as a commute. Some of the gates won’t be open, so you’ll have to go around, but it’s a great way to become familiar with all the turns and possible hot spots before you have to combine them with commuter car traffic.

I will definitely look into these as well! Really don’t mind road riding, actually prefer it over trail. Now the traffic on the other hand I could do without. But living and working around here, I might as well get used to it I guess. Thanks for the links as well!

[Oh4dog]

@dbb 190934 wrote:

If memory serves, the Crystal City Connector is mile marker 14 on the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT). MM 0 is at Mount Vernon. Add getting to Mount Vernon and two miles (or so) to get to Henderson Hall and you will be pretty close.

Probably a good early weekend day test ride.

Awesome! Thank you so much DBB!

[Oh4dog]

@dbb 190929 wrote:

There is a great route from Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Trail. Head out the gate at River Village (if it is still open) and then head to Mount Vernon. At the Crystal City Connector (near DCA), head west (north on Crystal Drive, west on 15th, which turns into Joyce, and then up Southgate to the Henderson Hall gate). 15th turns into Joyce which turns into Southgate.

Wonderful! Thank you so much for the response! Do you know what the distance is by chance? I am definitely going to give it a ride!

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