Commuting - Washington DC commuters -- flooding?

Hey, anyone braving any local MUP's today? I know I'm surely taking the metro, since the mount vernon trail is almost certainly under water in many spots.

Just wondering how things look, that's all ;).

It's not flooding until it's over your wheel hubs.

Yes, thank you.

We got hit by the same storm system in NC, a little sooner than DC. I drove to work Weds and Thurs as I have no interest in biking during torrential rains. We got 4+ inches in the rain gauge in my yard, and some areas got well over 12 inches. Since Monday, we've gotten nearly 8 inches of rain at my house, and some areas got more than 20 inches. Around here, they tend to put the MUPs in floodplains along streams and creeks, which are the first areas to flood during heavy rain.

I rode yesterday and plan on getting on the bike in a few minutes to get to work myself. I thought today I'd cut through Crystal City to avoid 4MR Trail, which is most prone to flood along my route. I think the rest of the ride should be fine... as long as the water doesn't come over my wheel hubs! ;) I'll post what my ride was like at some point this morning.

Alright - thanks man! Do you ride along MVT as well? I assume you do north of 4-mile-run since it runs right into it ;). The only part I have noticed tends to flood extensively is (like you said, 4-mile run) but also the area by the sailing marina and sometimes by the airport there.

Around here, they tend to put the MUPs in floodplains along streams and creeks, which are the first areas to flood during heavy rain.

They do the same in England. Must be some sort of international standard for civil engineers.

The main (most heavily used) mups in York flood 8-9 times a year, up to 4ft deep sometimes, more usually 1-2ft. Afterwards, they are covered with a thick sludge that doesn't get removed for weeks.

Alright - thanks man! Do you ride along MVT as well? I assume you do north of 4-mile-run since it runs right into it ;). The only part I have noticed tends to flood extensively is (like you said, 4-mile run) but also the area by the sailing marina and sometimes by the airport there.

I do ride MVT, reached from Del Ray via Commonweatlh Ave and 4MR Trail. I take MVT up to the 14th St Bridge and then into the District. So, yeah, generally, my commuting is generally all north of 4MR or along it.

I decided to just go for it and take 4MR anyway. Much to my pleasant surprise, there were no issues whatsoever w/ flooding anywhere along the route, be it along 4MR or MVT. I haven't checked when high tide is/was. So it may have been low tide, which would make a huge difference, of course. The strong northerly winds, though a bit of a pain in my arse coming to work this AM, probably help, too. I think the worst flooding occurs when there are strong southerly winds which help to back the water up in the Potomoc as it tries to flow to the Bay.

In any event, whatever the reason, the coast was clear! :)

We have the opposite problem here. Louisville received only 0.12" of rain for the month of September. My yard has turned brown. :)

We have the opposite problem here. Louisville received only 0.12" of rain for the month of September. My yard has turned brown. :)

Yeah, we were in a similar situation... according to the NWS for August and September combined we had just about 3" (2" of which were in August) and then we got 5" in a little over 24 hrs.

Coule be worse... could have gotten 13" like some of the places in the Carolinas!

High tide isn't until 2:30 or thereabouts. You probably hit at fairly near to low tide.

I thought I might be able to swing it, but just didn't pull the trigger ;).

Ride is up 4 mile run, to Mt. Vernon trail, and over 14th street bridge. Rode to and from work on Thursday (I felt drier in the shower) and rode in this morning. Planning on riding back, clearly.

No flooding, and not much evidence of trail flooding, bar a few muddy spots on 4 mile run. Good times.

I ride north of town along the Anacostia tributaries. The underpasses are a mess, but the rest is fine. I'm loving my fenders and mud flap today.

Rode to and from work on Thursday (I felt drier in the shower)

Yeah, yesterday was a mess. Fenders got a workout for sure. It took all day hanging in my office for my VINYL rain poncho to almost completely dry. Still better than a good day on metro, though! :)

Still better than a good day on metro, though! :)

When I think about walking to the bus, to stand next to 100 B.O.-laden govt. shlubs on the bus, to walk to the metro, to wait to get on a train that might not come, along with aforementioned shlubs... I get so motivated to ride. No matter the conditions.

I rode in today on the W&OD and expected some flooding, but it was clear the whole way. I get off in Tysons, so I can't speak for closer in to DC, but my section was fairly dry. Sunny and beautiful now, looking forward to the ride home!