Commuting - Mt. Vernon snow update-DC/NoVA

Ok... cause I have to leave out at 4:30am tomorrow to get to work, and I'm worried. I've seen Four Mile Run- just completely covered with snow (and probably ice too).

Any alternatives for me to take? For now, I'm going to travel Glebe to Route 1, but I'm not sure where the turn off is for catching Mt. Vernon if I stick with that, unless I head over to 20th Street and catch it right at the first bridge.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Koffee

Turn right on Eads where Glebe crosses it. It dead ends on the bike trail. As a general rule, no bike trails in this area are ever plowed.

Paul

Actually, it would be a left onto Eades if you're coming from my direction. ;) But I'm planning to bypass Eades if possible and just continue to Jefferson Davis Highway and just ride alongside the trail there. I just heard something about the trail along J D Hwy ending, then there's some kind of tunnel I go under, and it dumps me onto the last part of Mt. Vernon or something like that?

Koffee

Be careful tomorrow. The forecast for tonight is around 20 degrees. It'll be an icy morning.
Maybe a day on the Metro?

Koffee, if you don't have studded tires, you might really want to consider the Metro. There will be alot of black ice because of all the melting today, and at 4:30 am, it won't be pretty, even on the major streets like Glebe and Eades.

I have my icebike ready with studded tires, but I'm a bit nervous. I took a spin on it the afternoon, but there was no real ice, only snow, water, and slush. If the black ice that always covers the next block from my house is unrideable with the studs, I'll turn around and Metro in. I've hit my head too many times already.

Koffee:

Head north on Crystal Drive. There will be a small park on your right. Watch for the steep downhill path leading to the tunnel and thence to the Mt. Vernon Trail.

In my experience, under winter conditions, the Arlington off-street trail system is nearly impassible without studded tires and can be difficult even with them. You may have to walk the bike part of the way to the 14th Street bridge.

On the good side, all roads are clear. The one problem is the black ice that can be expected.

Paul

Ok, so I'll take Eads to 18th Street, then take 18th St. to Crystal Drive and jump the path there. That'll guarantee me missing most of the path.

Yeah... when I saw overnight lows of 19 degrees, I began to worry a bit. But it's still not a Metro day. It would take me a lot to get on a Metro.

Koffee

Ok, so I'll take Eads to 18th Street, then take 18th St. to Crystal Drive and jump the path there. That'll guarantee me missing most of the path.

Yeah... when I saw overnight lows of 19 degrees, I began to worry a bit. But it's still not a Metro day. It would take me a lot to get on a Metro.

Koffee

Why no metro? No stop close or you are against it?

Personally I would bike/metro. Bike to the nearest stop and metro in. Bike the rest of the way if your office isn't near a stop. This would minimize the danger from biking early in the morning before the sun has melted the ice.

It would probably put you to work early (since you can't have a bike from 7:00-10:00am, but since you are get up early to ride anyhow, it wouldn't hurt for a day. By the afternoon the black ice problem should be smaller, since it should be at least a little above freezing and the sun will have been out heating up the asphalt.

-D

No metro. Too many people with nasty morning breath. Too many "the metro is closed for x,y,z and we'll be reopening soon". And I just don't like the metro in general. I get to work in 25- 40 min, but always an hour or so by train with all the transferring and waiting. And I don't like the restrictions they have for bikes. I'd rather just deal with black ice.

Plus, the first train doesn't start until 5am, and I want to be to work by 5:15 am, so it wouldn't work at all.

Koffee

No metro. Too many people with nasty morning breath. Too many "the metro is closed for x,y,z and we'll be reopening soon". And I just don't like the metro in general. I get to work in 25- 40 min, but always an hour or so by train with all the transferring and waiting. And I don't like the restrictions they have for bikes. I'd rather just deal with black ice.

Plus, the first train doesn't start until 5am, and I want to be to work by 5:15 am, so it wouldn't work at all.

Koffee

All decent reasons. It was a thought. One word of advise. Don't ever try the pathetic excuse for a metro up here in Baltimore.

Good luck tomorrow, and be safe

-D

Thanks. I got my plan in action. I'm leaving 15 minutes early. I'm even bringing my coffee since I'll be leaving much earlier, and I'll probably feel a little run down. ;)

Koffee

Ok, I just risked my life and rode into work today. I'm mad. And I'm going to call over to the park service today. I'll post something once I get some kind of solid confirmation from them on what they plan to do about the Mt. Vernon Trail.

So I did as I said I'd do- I rode Glebe to Eads, then turned on 18th Street and rode to Crystal Drive (mild black ice). As soon as I hit the path, I encountered immediate snow. No biggie. I walked/rode (mostly walked) my bike to Mt. Vernon Trail. As soon as I hit the trail, though, there were problems. Clearly, there was NO ATTEMPT on the part of the park service to plow- not even a tiny bit. Consequently, I walked/rode (mostly walked about 85% of the time) until I got really mad. Walking along GWH, I got madder and madder watching the cars zoom by. Finally, I jumped onto GWH and rode in the dark (keep in mind, it was only about a few minutes to 5am by this point) until I hit Gravelly Point. Gravelly Point itself was only partially plowed, so it became again a walk/ride fest until I passed under 14th Street bridge. Figuring that if I walked to the start of the 14th Street bridge bike path, I'd only encounter more snow, I decided to just push my bike up the hill. When I got to the top of the hill, I remounted and rode across the 14th Street Bridge, but there still is minimal ice. I only had to get off my bike and walk once. On the DC side of the 14th Street bridge is where all the ice is, so be warned about that.

Once I got into DC, it's a whole different story- plowed streets, shovelled sidewalks. I said to myself "I'm sick of this ****... I'm going to pursue this and force them to at least provide basic service for the Mt. Vernon Trail". So please... no lectures about how I can take public transportation, no talk about how they never do anything. They never do anything because we act like a bunch of aholes and we let them do this to us. I'm not going to allow them to treat me (or other cyclists) this way. We deserve equal access just as much as cars and pedestrians do for their streets and sidewalks. If they can't give it to us, then they should reimburse us for taking public transportation, taxis, or renting cars. I want action. I want retribution. Dammit, I want to not have to risk my life and take an hour and five minutes to ride into work when it usually only takes me 30 minutes!

**** the system!

Koffee

Well, that saves me having to ask about Mt. Vernon trail conditions! I was out yesterday with the studded tires, but did not have the guts to try it this morning considering the condition of the ice. Can you let us know if the sun cleans it up any today? Hope you have a better ride home. :)

You go girl!?!? Yours is a noble cause and I wish you good luck The National Park Service did plow the Capital Crescent from the DC line down to G'town this morning. It made the riding somewhat easier, but the big effect is how it speeds up melting. Plowed sections that were in the sun were already turning to bare pavement. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Thanks for the update, Koffee.

With temps in upper 30s and some sunshine, there should some melting today. Maybe the MV trail will be a little better tomorrow, so I think I'll take it then...

Ok, I just risked my life and rode into work today. I'm mad. And I'm going to call over to the park service today. I'll post something once I get some kind of solid confirmation from them on what they plan to do about the Mt. Vernon Trail.

So I did as I said I'd do- I rode Glebe to Eads, then turned on 18th Street and rode to Crystal Drive (mild black ice). As soon as I hit the path, I encountered immediate snow. No biggie. I walked/rode (mostly walked) my bike to Mt. Vernon Trail. As soon as I hit the trail, though, there were problems. Clearly, there was NO ATTEMPT on the part of the park service to plow- not even a tiny bit. Consequently, I walked/rode (mostly walked about 85% of the time) until I got really mad. Walking along GWH, I got madder and madder watching the cars zoom by. Finally, I jumped onto GWH and rode in the dark (keep in mind, it was only about a few minutes to 5am by this point) until I hit Gravelly Point. Gravelly Point itself was only partially plowed, so it became again a walk/ride fest until I passed under 14th Street bridge. Figuring that if I walked to the start of the 14th Street bridge bike path, I'd only encounter more snow, I decided to just push my bike up the hill. When I got to the top of the hill, I remounted and rode across the 14th Street Bridge, but there still is minimal ice. I only had to get off my bike and walk once. On the DC side of the 14th Street bridge is where all the ice is, so be warned about that.

Once I got into DC, it's a whole different story- plowed streets, shovelled sidewalks. I said to myself "I'm sick of this ****... I'm going to pursue this and force them to at least provide basic service for the Mt. Vernon Trail". So please... no lectures about how I can take public transportation, no talk about how they never do anything. They never do anything because we act like a bunch of aholes and we let them do this to us. I'm not going to allow them to treat me (or other cyclists) this way. We deserve equal access just as much as cars and pedestrians do for their streets and sidewalks. If they can't give it to us, then they should reimburse us for taking public transportation, taxis, or renting cars. I want action. I want retribution. Dammit, I want to not have to risk my life and take an hour and five minutes to ride into work when it usually only takes me 30 minutes!

**** the system!

Koffee

Yowl !

I don't know how you can ride in the freezing cold and 15 inches of snow!

I love to cycling but I would need to be in florida to ride year round.

As for the trails it's the same in Maryland. The DNR does not plow the bicycle trails you must wait for the spring thaw.

But we have tons of bureaucratic crap; like anti-bicycle and anti-gun. I don't feel free or that my tax money is well spent.

But try to change things if you can. I have complained about several Baltimore City services and it's just a dead end into a brick wall.

Ok, I just risked my life and rode into work today. I'm mad. And I'm going to call over to the park service today. I'll post something once I get some kind of solid confirmation from them on what they plan to do about the Mt. Vernon Trail.

... I'm going to pursue this and force them to at least provide basic service for the Mt. Vernon Trail". So please... no lectures about how I can take public transportation, no talk about how they never do anything. They never do anything because we act like a bunch of aholes and we let them do this to us. I'm not going to allow them to treat me (or other cyclists) this way. We deserve equal access just as much as cars and pedestrians do for their streets and sidewalks. If they can't give it to us, then they should reimburse us for taking public transportation, taxis, or renting cars. I want action. I want retribution. Dammit, I want to not have to risk my life and take an hour and five minutes to ride into work when it usually only takes me 30 minutes!

**** the system!

Koffee

What really makes me laugh is that the Park Service always immediately plough the parking spots along the trail.....for what? if the trail isn't usable what's the point!

Love riding in the snow, but once people have been walking around in it and the footprints freeze solid, it is impossible to pass. Problem is it also takes a while to defrost.

What really makes me laugh is that the Park Service always immediately plough the parking spots along the trail.....for what? if the trail isn't usable what's the point!

That's funny!

Here in Maryland, last year after a large snow storm the temperature reached 65 degrees so I went to the B&A Trail to ride and as you stated the parking lot was cleared but the trail was covered with ice and snow. The DNR officer said to come back in a few weeks after the spring thaw ;)

Koffee -- I admire your spirit, but you may be best served by buying studded tires. I've had mine for three DC winters and I haven't missed a day of cycle-commuting due to weather since I got them. On a morning like today even where it's been plowed there is ice everywhere, and it only takes a sliver of ice to put a bicycle down.

Another option is to do your own trail maintenance. A little salt goes a long way. If you sprinkle it in the morning, by the time you come home in the evening the path will often be cleared. Then there's this option:
http://www-bdnew.fnal.gov/pbar/organizationalchart/peterson/snowplow_files/Bike_Plow.html


Marylandnewbie -- what time did you go down the CCT? I was on it around 8:30 this morning and it was unplowed, rutted ice. I did see a couple of NPS trucks but they didn't seem to be doing anything.

Studded tires are the way to go. I'm not waiting for the bureaucracy to catch up to me. Here are some pics of the MV trail near Alexandria. Very rutty and icy, but no problem with the studded tires.

Studded tires are the way to go. I'm not waiting for the bureaucracy to catch up to me. Here are some pics of the MV trail near Alexandria. Very rutty and icy, but no problem with the studded tires.

Nic pics, Velogirl. I see that those were taken on one of the wooden bridges... How are the pavement sections looking?

Nic pics, Velogirl. I see that those were taken on one of the wooden bridges... How are the pavement sections looking?

much the same, with some melted off parts. Very bumpy, frozen ruts. Must have been lots of joggers out. I can't imagine riding without studded tires. I saw only 5 other commuters, and three of them had studded tires (you can hear them on bare pavement). One guy was in town on a regular bike, and the other guy was having trouble on the trail.

I was the only chica that I saw during my commute :)

Those a-holes!

I mean, they act all sympathetic, but I ended up just implying they are bunch of lazy bastards passing the buck from one supervisor to the next. I'm going to contact John James, the acting Superintendent of the National Park Service and speak my mind. I'm also going to get in contact with WABA and see what they're up to. Then I'm going to contact an attorney. I can't believe the lame excuses I got earlier when I talked to them today- the best of the excuses was that the trail is NOT a bike path- it is a multi use trail, and right now, when it's snowing, they don't plow because it's used by cross country skiers and snowmobilers. CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS AND SNOWMOBILERS??!! Bite me! I told them that they need to consider who the primary users of the trail are and who's being the most inconvenienced by the loss of the trail- and that's cyclists and runners. It's so lame. The guy even told me that in order to change the way "things are", it would probably take congressional action. Congressional action?? Congressional action? Waht the crap does that mean "Congressional Action"? Not a problem, I told him. I'm going to talk to some people on the top floor of my building. They work in the senate, and I'm sure they can direct me to the proper congressional people. No answer to that one- I think he didn't know what to say after that. But I am going to contact my buddies at the Senate. Heck, I just had brownies up there with them on Friday. I'll bake a batch of my own brownies and bring it over and butter them up with it.

I am hoping that WABA can team up with a local runners group (any runners group). I'm perfectly willing to come by with a shovel and salt and take a section of the path and shovel it clean. If WABA can get 10 dedicated folks and the runners group can get 10 dedicated folks, and we just take the trail from mile 7 to the Key Bridge, we can pretty much clear up the mess along the path. With 30 dedicated people, we can have that path cleared within 2 hours.

*sigh*

The ride home definitely wasn't as bad. It only took me 50 minuts instead of the 1:05 min from this morning. It is pretty badly iced and snowed over still, but not as badly as this morning. It's got some patchy clear spots, then gets snowy and icy. Heading south, I got off at the Crystal City turn off and didn't bother to try getting over that second bridge. It looked to be completely iced over still. :(

Tomorrow morning, I'm taking my bike to the Metro. Then my brother is going to pick me up at the metro and drive me into DC. I'm going to ride in with him. As far as the ride back, I'll have to figure it out. I have to work until late in the evening, but I'm hoping that I can hitch a ride off someone who works at my fitness club. If not, I will have to stomach the metro back to my bike, then take my bike the rest of the way. By Wednesday, I expect to be 100% back to riding early morning.

Man, this is ridiculous.

Koffee

much the same, with some melted off parts. Very bumpy, frozen ruts. Must have been lots of joggers out. I can't imagine riding without studded tires. I saw only 5 other commuters, and three of them had studded tires (you can hear them on bare pavement). One guy was in town on a regular bike, and the other guy was having trouble on the trail.

I was the only chica that I saw during my commute :)

I saw a chica that I thought was you the other day; and I was pretty embarrassed when I said "hi," and it turned out to be someone else! :o Ha ha...

Otherwise, thanks... I'm hoping that there was some melting today, because I want to get out there tomorrow; though that sounds pretty hairy on 23s (my bike won't allow for much bigger...). Unlike the trail, though, local roads seem good; so I think I'll take the MV Trail to the Crystal City spur, then take a road route from there (Crystal Dr./S. 18th St./S. Eads St./S. Glebe Rd./Rt. 1 to the other side of Four Mile Run/Path on Alex. side of Four Mile Run/Commonwealth Av/King St. towards the river...).

Oh, and Koffee, thanks for your follow-up, too.

Thanks for the information all, looks like I will give it a whirl tomorrow. Great pics velogirl!!! Looks like tomorrow I will be "back in the saddle." Always a little more cautious, my cyclocross does not have quite the number of studs on my tires as the old mountain bike. (god I miss that thing) Can't say enough good stuff about the studded tires though, I too highly recommend them

DCcommuter -- I would guess that I ran into the plow about 9:30 right at the DC line. It took me over an hour to make the 6-1/2 miles from Silver Spring. A truly ridiculous amount of time for 6 miles. The plowed areas were already showing melting when I passed through.

I came home taking a shortcut on the Route 50 trail. It was a blast! There was one nice downhil at the Route 27 /50 overpass that was untouched powder. There were also some tricky sections where pedestrians had created the usual frozen lunar landscape, and some deep parts to slog through. If it were a ski run, it would be classed intermediate.

Koffee: I agree with velo that you should get some studs. I'm amazed that you did as well as you did without them. You must be a very good rider -- much better than me, certainly. I chatted with another commuter today who said that there is a right turn off of Joyce near the 395 overpass that leads right to the 14th Street Bridge MUP.

Paul

Koffee,

Am I missing something here? I use the Capital Crescent trail for commuting but for times like this I have a through town route that keeps me on plowed roads. Is there some reason you're not taking to the roads?

My geography of VA is hazy (I'm one of those people who don't cross the river!) but I do have a sense that a lot of the VA roads leading into DC aren't especially accomodating for cyclists. Is this why?

VA has had a long habit of building high speed expressways with no shoulder forcing cyclists onto MUPs. Of course - in winter we see that this is a case where seperate is not equal.

I'm not coming from DC. I'm coming from Alexandria... VA. The only real way to get into DC from Alexandria/Arlington is via the Mt. Vernon trail... though it does look like there are a couple of tricks you can try. The highways that go into DC don't have accomodations for cyclists once you hit the bridges. You have to get on the trail (from what I've seen so far, so I'm not sure I can exactly state with certainty what's going on with these roads). *sigh*


Not being from here, I'm not sure about the roads yet, so it would take just a wee bit of time to figure out about this Joyce Street thing. :-/

Koffee

I came home taking a shortcut on the Route 50 trail. It was a blast! There was one nice downhil at the Route 27 /50 overpass that was untouched powder. There were also some tricky sections where pedestrians had created the usual frozen lunar landscape, and some deep parts to slog through. If it were a ski run, it would be classed intermediate.

Koffee: I agree with velo that you should get some studs. I'm amazed that you did as well as you did without them. You must be a very good rider -- much better than me, certainly. I chatted with another commuter today who said that there is a right turn off of Joyce near the 395 overpass that leads right to the 14th Street Bridge MUP.

Paul

I have seen Joyce, I believe. Is that right off Crystal Drive?

Tomorrow, my brother is going to pick me up at the metro and drop me at work. So I'm at least safe for now. :)

Koffee

ugh - I see your problem now. Spent some time looking at ADC's Bike Map and Google Earth. The combination of National Airport, Pentagon, and Arlington Cemetary means there are few approaches to the bridges other than the MUPs.

Look on the bright side Koffee. DC is a southern city - by law we only get a few snowy days a year. Many winters we don't have any appreciable snow at all. A few days on Metro can't be that bad (though as I write this I'm suffering my second cold of the year already - I blame it on Metro).

P.S. - Google Earth is a great tool to check out alternative routes. They have really sharp satellite photos of the DC area. I can easily spot my old car parked in front of my old apartment (the photos are a few years old). Hey - wait a minute - whose car is that parked in front of my girl friends house :mad:

Did the run this morning, not to bad. There are spots that would be very difficult (aka. walk) without studs, but with the studs were doable as long as caution was used. I actually found it sort of relaxing, I only passed two other people on the trail all together!!! For me at least, I prefer this over those summer mornings when the trail is packed by 6:30am

Hope everyone got in safely today!

Those a-holes!

I am hoping that WABA can team up with a local runners group (any runners group). I'm perfectly willing to come by with a shovel and salt and take a section of the path and shovel it clean. If WABA can get 10 dedicated folks and the runners group can get 10 dedicated folks, and we just take the trail from mile 7 to the Key Bridge, we can pretty much clear up the mess along the path. With 30 dedicated people, we can have that path cleared within 2 hours.

*Koffee

Potomac Runners is a large group that run on the MV trail every Saturday AM. Might be worth a try?

Potomac Runners (http://www.potomacrunners.org/)

I'm in for helping to clear the trail. I would be more than happy to help with that, make all our lives easier!

Hey - wait a minute - whose car is that parked in front of my girl friends house :mad:

***** you caught me :eek:

Wow! I thought I had pulled a few things in my life in being pissed off at the man, but you top anything I have done! :eek:

I've never seen snowmobiliers out on the path and I don't see how they would be allowed? (No motorized vehicles allowed rule).. :p I've never heard of plowing the trails or cleaning (unless there is major hurricane debri like a couple years ago). You are going to have to wait for the melt,



Those a-holes!

I mean, they act all sympathetic, but I ended up just implying they are bunch of lazy bastards passing the buck from one supervisor to the next. I'm going to contact John James, the acting Superintendent of the National Park Service and speak my mind. I'm also going to get in contact with WABA and see what they're up to. Then I'm going to contact an attorney. I can't believe the lame excuses I got earlier when I talked to them today- the best of the excuses was that the trail is NOT a bike path- it is a multi use trail, and right now, when it's snowing, they don't plow because it's used by cross country skiers and snowmobilers. CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS AND SNOWMOBILERS??!! Bite me! I told them that they need to consider who the primary users of the trail are and who's being the most inconvenienced by the loss of the trail- and that's cyclists and runners. It's so lame. The guy even told me that in order to change the way "things are", it would probably take congressional action. Congressional action?? Congressional action? Waht the crap does that mean "Congressional Action"? Not a problem, I told him. I'm going to talk to some people on the top floor of my building. They work in the senate, and I'm sure they can direct me to the proper congressional people. No answer to that one- I think he didn't know what to say after that. But I am going to contact my buddies at the Senate. Heck, I just had brownies up there with them on Friday. I'll bake a batch of my own brownies and bring it over and butter them up with it.

I am hoping that WABA can team up with a local runners group (any runners group). I'm perfectly willing to come by with a shovel and salt and take a section of the path and shovel it clean. If WABA can get 10 dedicated folks and the runners group can get 10 dedicated folks, and we just take the trail from mile 7 to the Key Bridge, we can pretty much clear up the mess along the path. With 30 dedicated people, we can have that path cleared within 2 hours.

*sigh*

The ride home definitely wasn't as bad. It only took me 50 minuts instead of the 1:05 min from this morning. It is pretty badly iced and snowed over still, but not as badly as this morning. It's got some patchy clear spots, then gets snowy and icy. Heading south, I got off at the Crystal City turn off and didn't bother to try getting over that second bridge. It looked to be completely iced over still. :(

Tomorrow morning, I'm taking my bike to the Metro. Then my brother is going to pick me up at the metro and drive me into DC. I'm going to ride in with him. As far as the ride back, I'll have to figure it out. I have to work until late in the evening, but I'm hoping that I can hitch a ride off someone who works at my fitness club. If not, I will have to stomach the metro back to my bike, then take my bike the rest of the way. By Wednesday, I expect to be 100% back to riding early morning.

Man, this is ridiculous.

Koffee

This morning, my brother drove me into work. He picked me up at the train station where I parked my bike. Then after I finished with work and all, I took the train back to my bike, then rode the rest of the way home. I'm still going to leave early tomorrow morning just in case, and I'll avoid as much of the path as possible, but hopefully, it'll be mostly cleared out.

Koffee

I'm not coming from DC. I'm coming from Alexandria... VA. The only real way to get into DC from Alexandria/Arlington is via the Mt. Vernon trail... though it does look like there are a couple of tricks you can try. The highways that go into DC don't have accomodations for cyclists once you hit the bridges. You have to get on the trail (from what I've seen so far, so I'm not sure I can exactly state with certainty what's going on with these roads). *sigh*


Not being from here, I'm not sure about the roads yet, so it would take just a wee bit of time to figure out about this Joyce Street thing. :-/

Koffee

Here's an alternative to getting on the trail at Crystal City. If the trail looks too bad, stay on Crystal Drive. When you hit the traffic light intersection at Old Jeff Davis Highway (Clark Street), take a right and stay on it past the curve towards the Pentagon. This brings you underneath I-395. Go past that until you see a ramp. Either walk on carefully ride up the exit against the traffic and walk/ride the sidewalk shoulder until you get to the sidewalk of the bridge. It's about 75 yards total. There's a sidewalk through the grass but I doubt you can see if in heavy snow.

Got in just fine this morning on my 700x35-non studded tires. The wooden bridge just past Slator's Lane was a little hairy and the concrete bridge near the airport forced me to take the oncoming lane, however, the rest of the ride was largely clear with only a few small patches of black ice thrown in to keep things interesting. I followed another rider with studded tires who, I could easily have passed, but figured I'd then slow him down on the icy sections. The 14th Street bridge is now completely clear and the rest of my ride in DC was very nice. With temps above freezing, many of the patches that appear to be ice are actually just wet, but be careful (straighten up, off the brakes, stop pedalling, and level pedals).

ditto. Only problem I had was the wooden bridge, and even that was no problem as long as you stayed slow and in the ruts. Now, I just need some rain to wash away the salt...... :D



Got in just fine this morning on my 700x35-non studded tires. The wooden bridge just past Slator's Lane was a little hairy and the concrete bridge near the airport forced me to take the oncoming lane, however, the rest of the ride was largely clear with only a few small patches of black ice thrown in to keep things interesting. I followed another rider with studded tires who, I could easily have passed, but figured I'd then slow him down on the icy sections. The 14th Street bridge is now completely clear and the rest of my ride in DC was very nice. With temps above freezing, many of the patches that appear to be ice are actually just wet, but be careful (straighten up, off the brakes, stop pedalling, and level pedals).

Well, I am still avoiding Four Mile Run and the bit by the parking lot of the airport. So I just take Eads to 18th, then hop the path from there. It wasn't too bad, but they now are diverting bike traffic to the GWH (the closed part) for a little bit. That second bridge overpass wasn't all fun either.

I don't know if I like the idea of riding against traffic on a ramp leading to a major highway. There's no sidewalk to walk/ride up if I decided to take the option of getting out to DC via the Pentagon?

Koffee

Well, I am still avoiding Four Mile Run and the bit by the parking lot of the airport. So I just take Eads to 18th, then hop the path from there. It wasn't too bad, but they now are diverting bike traffic to the GWH (the closed part) for a little bit. That second bridge overpass wasn't all fun either.

I don't know if I like the idea of riding against traffic on a ramp leading to a major highway. There's no sidewalk to walk/ride up if I decided to take the option of getting out to DC via the Pentagon?

Koffee

The problem is route 110. It's between the Pentagon and the 14th Street Bridge. Unless you take Clark Street, the only easy way to cross it is one bridge at the southeast corner of the Pentagon. That still gets you having to get back up the wrong way on ramps or walking through the snow. Otherwise you have to go to the north end of the Pentagon and get on the Mot Vernon trail there and that bring up up closer to the Memorial Bridge

Uugh. If I have to go all the way to Memorial Bridge, then I'm going out of my way. But it's still an option, I guess. :(

Koffee

I spent about an hour looking at maps of the area. I don't see any good route to the 14th Street Bridge other the Mount Vernon Trail. However, the Route 50 trail was quite clear this morning. Even without studs it would have been very ridable.

Paul

This is my third winter commuting every day (DC area), and I've been really disappointed by how little snow we've had this year, because part of the fun of winter riding is the challenge of riding on those unplowed paths. Nokian Extreme 294's are a necessity to do this (for me at least). So I have to admit, Koffee, that I'll be a bit disappointed (and more than a bit astonished) if your mission to get the paths cleared succeeds. I'll be particularly disappointed if they get out there before I can go cross-country skiing on the trails--there really isn't anywhere else around here to go cross-country skiing. But once the trails are all chopped up by footprints, and so are unskiable, and before the trail has refrozen overnight, then it does seem like they could easily run a snowplow down the path--though it may be that the wooden bridges aren't strong enough to support a vehicle. This wouldn't be an issue on the Custis trail, which also doesn't get plowed.

Well, I aim to disappoint! :)

If they just had one good trail that they could give us like a mile where we could get into DC, I wouldn't even be complaining. :(

Koffee