biking in DC recommendations?

[aeiea]

I'm traveling to DC tomorrow!!

Would love some recommendations. My hotel for the first few nights are in Alexandria Old Town. I heard it would be nice to bike around there. Then I'll be at a friend's place somewhere in DC proper (not too familiar with the area).

I do want to rent a bike one day and just tour DC/VA ... any recommendations of nice and easy paths? (Road)

[owlice]

Downtown DC -- the tourist part (National Mall, Smithsonian, monuments, and all) -- is great for biking. Nice and easy, great sites.

The Mount Vernon (paved) trail is 15 miles long and runs next to the river in Virginia down to (you see this coming, I'm sure!) Mount Vernon. I haven't ridden that trail, but people I know who have really like it.

Check out www.bikewashington.org for more ideas.

[Selkie]

Be careful on the Mt. Vernon Trail. It's heavily traveled, narrow and windy in spots, and a lot of the trail users either are plugged into IPODs or going way too fast. I avoid that trail for those reasons. However, if you go during a weekday day---say around noon---it shouldn't be as bad.

You might want to head north, and either go into the city or take the Custis Trail to the W&OD.

[Cataboo]

Aeiea - how long are you going to be here? I wonder if a couple of us can bike in DC with you this weekend. I'm waiting for the forecast to firm up, 'cause i'm heading for the shore if there's no rain.

[Cataboo]

I was hoping that you were going to be here during Bike DC - but that's Oct 17th, not this weekend.

The Mount Vernon trail is going to be a nice pretty one for you - it runs along the potomac, through woods, parks, and over the wetlands on bridges. I don't know if the leaves are turning over there and if any have dropped on the path (It is paved) - but wet leaves (or just leaves) on the path can be slippery. They tend to collect on downhills & turns.

there's a few twisty downhills (or uphills) with sharp turns onto bridges, etc... So take it easy going down hills.


If you take the path in the opposite direction, you go up to DC.

[Zen]

If you just want to putz around downtown you can ride to all the museums on the mall or wherever you want to go downtown. There are some bike lanes here and there on the street but if you don't feel comfortable you can ride on the sidewalk.

Do you want to see a bike trail or do you want to see the city?

[ny biker]

If you just want to putz around downtown you can ride to all the museums on the mall or wherever you want to go downtown. There are some bike lanes here and there on the street but if you don't feel comfortable you can ride on the sidewalk. There are even bike lanes here and there.

Do you want to see a bike trail or do you want to see the city?

Cycling on the sidewalk is illegal in the DC Central Business District. Click the "DC Prohibited Sidewalk Cycling zone" link on this page to see the map.

http://www.waba.org/areabiking/maps.php


I second the bikewashington recommendation. Lots of info on that site.

[aeiea]

I'm in DC until Sunday (morning). So I figured I'd do one ride on Friday and another ride on Saturday.

I'd love to join up if any of you are doing anything then! Group rides <3

Thanks for the recommendations; I will check them out.

[Zen]

Cycling on the sidewalk is illegal in the DC Central Business District. Click the "DC Prohibited Sidewalk Cycling zone" link on this page to see the map.

http://www.waba.org/areabiking/maps.php

On a weekend? Meh.

[Cataboo]

On a weekend? Meh.

You scofflaw.

Have you been violating the law?

[owlice]

Cycling on the sidewalk is illegal in the DC Central Business District. Click the "DC Prohibited Sidewalk Cycling zone" link on this page to see the map.

http://www.waba.org/areabiking/maps.php

Oh, hell's bells, I ride on the sidewalk on the Mall up to the Capitol! I wouldn't ride on a sidewalk north of Constitution Avenue, but on the south sidewalk of Constitution and further south of it, I do it whenever I'm biking in DC , as do loads of other bikers.

(Good to know that it's not legal, though; now I'll smile when I ride! )

Another nice ride is the Capital Crescent Trail, which parallels the C&O for a bit and runs up to Bethesda. If you are going to ride the C&O, you want fat tires if you're going to head up to Great Falls (which is very pretty and good for nature). The C&O Canal towpath is rocky in the Great Falls area.

Rock Creek Park is good for nature, too. From Alexandria, you have easy access to Capital Crescent, C&O, and Rock Creek. Not so much for nature, but another nice little ride, if you're riding in DC, is around Hains Point. It's a different perspective on DC, and is a very very (very) popular loop for bikers, runners, skaters, etc.

(I was biking around Hains Point yesterday, and had to really work to pass one skater.... me passing someone almost never happens. Of course, she later passed me. I was doing what for me is a very speedy 14 MPH, and she zoomed right on by.)

Parts of Rock Creek are closed to motor vehicle traffic from 7 AM Saturday to 7 PM Sunday (and on holidays). The hiking is good in the park, too.

[Possegal]

Today the Capital Crescent was like an obstacle course of downed branches and large tree paraphernalia. My niece and I enjoyed it, but laughed at all the defensive maneuvering we had to do. I'm amazed neither of us have a flat at this point (though I haven't checked my bike since I got home). Other than that, gorgeous day for a ride on it!