Northeast - Route Request: Fairfax (GMU) to Mclean

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a bike friendly route from George Mason University to McLean. I work in McLean just off of 123 a few blocks north of the 123/495 intersection. Any suggestions?

Thanx.

-g

The route I'd take:
From GMU take University north to old town. Right at North St then left onto Old Lee Highway. Just before Fairfax Circle go right on Old Pickett Road, then left on Pickett (the bike route on Picket is on the sidewalk, which might be safest at rush hour.) Cross Arlington Blvd and switch to the Fairfax Connector Trail (on the right thru the woods.) Cross Lee Highway and continue on the FCT. When it ends, go straight to cross I-66, continue past the Metro garages and straight at the light on Vaden. At the end switch back to the trail. Go thru Nottaway park to the entrance. Right on Courthouse Rd, straight at the light to cross Nutley. Right on Locust at the stop sign. Right, left and left on Center, Cherry and Park, going around the Community Center and ball fields (crossing the W&OD)
Right on Locust. Right on Branch. Left on Echols. Left-right at Niblick to stay on Echols. Right on Wolftrap Way.

Now it gets messy.
Are you going to West Gate or Westpark?
If you're west of the B'way, towards Westpark and Tysons, cut up to Old Courthouse on Woodford or Lord Fairfax. Right to Gallows Road, then left. Cross route 7 and turn into Tysons Corner. Use the ring road to get to the bridge over 123 on the Tysons II side.

If you have to cross the B'way to West Gate......good luck. You can try to take 123. Or go around by taking International Dr and Springhill to Lewinsville, then back to Magarity to take Colshire or Old Meadow.
Or take Gallows the other way to Old Gallows and try route 7 across the B'way to Magarity. Short but dangerous...er...I mean thrilling. ;)
Or if you don't mind some distance, take the W&OD in-bound to Great Falls and come up to Magarity from the other side.

Several alternate ways, depending on exactly where you are going to, your preference for road vs trail, and your tolerance for traffic. I can fill you in on the details.

The OP mentioned off 123 NORTH of the 123/495 intersection. If I'm interpreting that right, it means anything through Tysons Corner won't work at all - there are no shoulders and heavy traffic thru that interchange. From the west, Spring Hill Rd and Lewisnville Rd might work but Lewisnville becomes dicy when it goes back to 2 lanes.

I was looking at something similar a year or so ago (fortunately changed projects and have a much better commute!). A better route from the W&OD is to exit at Virginia Ln at the top of the short hill above Idylwood Park (approx MP 8). Assuming he was eastbound on the W&OD, then: L Virginia Ln, R Hurst St, R Idylwood Rd (traffic!), L Idyl Ln, R Pimmit Dr. Pimmit takes you across Rt 7. Take any of the major lefts up to Magarity.

From there, it depends on where the OP is going. Anderson and Colshire Dr will get him to the MITRE campus or Colshire to get across 123 to the offices on that side. Magarity and Great Falls Rd provide access to McLean via Old Chain Bridge Rd, or take Great Falls cross 123 onto Lewinsville Rd to the big office park over there (traffic!).

One other option I looked into is to go multi-modal. MetroBus has routes that runs up 123 from Vienna (maybe further south) up into Tysons or Langley. Unlike the Fairfax Connector buses, the MetroBus have bike racks. There are 3-4 buses each way (AM and PM) that might work for commuting.

Thanks folks. I'm heading to the MITRE campus there. So this will be useful.

-g

Still depends on which side of the beltway the OP needs to get to.
If outside, then the route I posted works, with a short nasty stretch from Old Courthouse Rd to Tysons Corner. I've never biked the mall access road at rush hour, but I've driven it often as a short-cut. The Gallows/Kidwell flyover next to the "big shopping bag" also works, might even be the best way.
If inside, then Idlywood and Pimmit Drive was one of the alternates I had in mind. Probably use Griffith as a more direct cut-over.

edit- oops, my post slipped in after yours. ;)

Mitre, eh? Good luck.

Thanks folks. I'm heading to the MITRE campus there. So this will be useful.

-g

Hi --

I work across the street and do the bike commute all the time. From WO&D is pretty straightforward -- come off the trail just west of Rt 7 where it crosses a main road, head up the hill (arches to the left) and make a right as the road straightens (I think it's Barbour). That bring you across 66. From there, make a left and a right and head down the hill on Pimmit, across RT7. then left on Anderson, which takes you to 123, next to the 266 bridge and between mitre and Capital One.