MB4

Hello all. I commute by bike to work daily from Potomac Maryland to downtown DC via the Cap Crescent Trail. Its about 17.5 miles each way. I have an opportunity to take a job in the Tysons Corner area. Does anyone know a way to commute from Maryland to Tysons? I guess I can take the Cap Crescent Trail to Chain Bridge and cross the Potomac there, but then what? I don't think I want to ride on 123 - way too narrow, winding, and too much traffic. Any suggestions? Thanks.

comradehoser

Go to the local bike store and get yourself a copy of the essential DC Metro area bike map. Don't know if they have one for Va., but the DC Metro area one has really extensive coverage over the whole area; the flipside has long-distance routes up to Baltimore, I do believe. You'll be able to hook up a Md-VA route in no time.

fryth

Well, as far as bike maps go, I suspect the following will be pretty useful to you. It doesn't go the whole way, but it handles a lot of it.

https://www.co.arlington.va.us/Depart...esBikemap.aspx

Goosebumps

I actually ride to Tysons Corner via Crescent trail 3 - 4 times a week (though my rides starts in Capitol Hill). I usually hit 123 around 7 am. Yes, the road is narrow at times (going up the hill after you cross the Potomac for instance), but I don't really mind riding on 123. Most cars give me plenty of room. My office is closer to the Dulles Toll road, so I end up turning right on Lewinsville Road then another right on Springhill Road, then presto, I'm at work.

As always, just keep your eyes and ears open and you should be okay.

GB

Guest

So how do you get to the 123 from Capital Crescent Trail?

Koffee

Goosebumps

In my case, I hop over to the C&O canal tow path (entrance close to the boathouse at about the 2 mile mark coming from Georgetown). Take the towpath about a mile or so, just as you are about to cross under Chainbridge, you will see a ramp leading you up to Chainbridge road.

From what I know, you can not access Chainbridge road from the Crescent trail, unless you really want to get creative. Ha!

GB

Guest

Oh. 123 is Chainbridge Rd? Got it.

I'm in Arlington, and I may also be working in Tysons Corner, or at least visiting other sites a couple of times a week. But I may have to be there real early in the morning... like by 6:30am.

Koffee

comradehoser

I did the whole "try and find a route with internet resources." Works for some areas, really crummy for my commute.

Trust me, you can't go wrong with the printed map. Shows all roads in detail, and trails/paths/routes are color-coded. Pretty cheap, too.

Guest

I have the printed map, which is cool, but my concerns are the general traffic of the area- fast roads or slow, hostile or friendly, trucker highway/fast road, etc. That's when I start eyeing our public transportation.

Koffee

chimblysweep

is there a way to take the W&OD at least part of the way? I know it goes out to that area...

Goosebumps

You shouldn't have any problems with traffic at that time.

GB

Goosebumps

There are a couple of different ways. See below. All routes are coming from D.C.

Option #1

"Take the Custis trail until it meets the W&OD. Take the W&OD to Great Falls Street in Falls Church (around milepost 6.5, before you get to route 7) and take it to west. Turns into Lewinsville Road at Dolly Madison. The rest is the same as you are used to (Lewinsville Rd/Springhill Rd). Westmoreland will get you there too (Westmoreland is the better option. As there is less traffic and it's a wider road)"

Option #2

"Gallows Road (at mile 9.5 btw) works only if you need to get somewhere on the west side of Tysons Corner."

Hope this helps.

GB

cc_rider

Koffee

From where you are in Arlington, Chain Bridge and 123 would be a long, long way out of your way.

W&OD to Little Falls/Westmoreland or Gallows is still the most direct.

If you're worried about riding the W&OD in the dark, go to Shirlington and take the W&OD only as far as George Mason Drive, around mile 1.5. Right on Geroge Mason, left on Lee Highway.
From there it depends where in Tysons you are going.
If you are going to the east or north side, then in Falls Church turn right Great Falls, turns into Lewinsville Road at 123. Use either Magarity to Route 7 or Lewinsville to Springhill.
If you are going to the west side, then stay on Lee Highway thru Falls Church, cross the beltway go right on Gallows Road to Tysons. (You'll just about pass my house.) 5:30 to 6:30 am traffic is not bad on the big roads.

There are also some less-traffic back roads you can take. PM me it you need directions.

cc_rider

I've seen that somewhere before.

Goosebumps

That's why I put everything in "quotes". I did not want to take the credit for your directions. I was merrly passing them along. Ha!

GB

cc_rider

Just messin' with ya - GB

Did you try Westmoreland? I'm curious how it worked for you.

CHenry

The river crossing is the problem. The American Legion Bridge does not permit bicycles. Chain Bridge is your next crossing going downriver. Upriver, White's Ferry
and then the U.S.15 bridge, in Frederick County, way out of the way. This is the curse of the D.C. area--way too few river crossings.

You might have to portage from the CCT to Canal Road, or take the exit off trail at the canal towpath south of the Arizona Avenue railroad bridge (where the stone house is and there is access to Canal Road from the parking lot) and then backtrack
on Canal Road to Chain Bridge. Remember that Canal Road is one-way inbound in the mornings and outbound in the afternoon; you will be riding against traffic. 123 is on the other side, with a winding hill to start you off from the light. Tysons should be a straight shot.

Are you sure you want to do this?

DCCommuter

What a great bunch of tips so far!

Coming south on the CCT, here is how I would get to Chain Bridge. About 100 yards before the railroad tunnel there is a gravel trail going down on the left. It goes under the CCT, then up a steep hill, and comes out at the intersection of Sangamore Road and MacArthur Blvd. Turn right onto MacArthur (or cross and take the counter-flow bike trail) and then take your next left onto Maryland Avenue. After a couple of blocks Maryland Ave. ends at Ridge road; turn left onto Ridge. After about a third of a mile on Ridge there is a trail on the right that goes down and crosses Clara Barton on a bridge. This trail is paved, but it is so steep that it is almost unbikeable -- coming up I once fell over because I was unable to maintain enough speed to stay upright. From here you can take the C&O right to the base of the bridge.

This is my best effort at a gmap representation:
https://tinyurl.com/8aotq


There is also a dirt trail that goes directly from the CCT to the base of the chain bridge. It's on your right, after the reservoir and before the railroad trestle. Unless you're an extreme downhill type, you'll have to walk or carry your bike. The problem is once you get there you have to cross Canal Road. There are no pedestrian facilities. In the morning rush hour, Canal is inbound only, and you can cross when the light turns to allow traffic to cross the bridge. In the evening rush hour canal is outbound only, and traffic never stops. According to gmaps this saves about half a mile.

Here is a page that shows a route from the Chain Bridge to the W&OD:

https://bikewashington.org/routes/keychain/keychain.htm

I'm not that familiar with Northern Va. so I don't know if W&OD is the way to go.

cc_rider

123 would not be my first choice, or second, or third..... I used to drive it often, still drive that stretch a couple times a month, and I've biked it once. Only once.

Coming from Capitol Hill, I would probably take Custis Trail/W&OD/Westmoreland. Only a half mile longer than CCT/Chain Bridge/123, for a lot less traffic and much safer ride.

Coming from the north on the CCT, Chain Bridge will save you 6 or 7 miles over Key Bridge.

If I was taking Chain Bridge, I'd still stay off 123. There is a back road route running parallel to 123 that is only a mile longer. Don't know how it is at rush hour, but I've ridden it on weekends and like it.
After crossing Chain Bridge, go straight at the light instead of right, and continue straight (not left) up 41st Street. At the top of the BIG hill, (you'll need to walk up part of it) go left on Randolf, right/left on Old Glebe Road, left on Glebe Road, quick right on Chesterbrook, left on Kirby Road at the T, right on Westmoreland at TL and whichever route is best for you into Tysons.

If you try the commute, let us know how it works.

CHenry

Another possibility: leave the CCT at the west side of the Massachusetts Avenue trail bridge and take the asphalt path to street level. That puts you out on Mass Ave., inbound side. Follow Mass. Ave. to Westmoreland Circle and exit one quarter-circle to Delacarlia Parkway. Follow the parkway to the end at Sibley Memorial Hospital and descend the rest of the hill to the intersection at MacArthur Blvd. You can turn left at MacArthur, but I would suggest crossing MacArthur and follow the parallel sidestreets in the Palisades neighborhood until you get to Arizona Ave. Follow Arizona Ave. to the bridge overpass. There is a light there. From the light, turn right and head out Canal Road to the Chain Bridge.

Depending on where you are starting your trip in Potomac, you can skip the CCT and take Brickyard or one of the other east-west routes to MacArthur and take the bike path on the river side of the road all the way in to the District. You will be required to walk your bike across the one-lane bridge over the Beltway spur in Glen Echo.

cc_rider

Since I've been giving advice on bike commuting routes, I thought I'd try some of them today.

Rode up Great Falls from Falls Church to Chain Bridge Road and back down Westmoreland to Kirby. Great Falls is better north bound than it is south, but both ways are ok for bikes. Westmoreland is wider with less traffic and better road surface, but is a little bit hillier. My choice would still be Westmoreland.
Kirby Road is an ok ride, although it narrows for a ways near Old Dominion. Traffic was moderate.
Chesterbrook was hillier but a good ride. Some narrow parts. Traffic was light.
Glebe, Old Glebe, Randolf all easy and flat.
41st Street - it is a BIG hill. You could probably use Military instead of 41st, but it is narrow with lots of traffic, It also puts you on the wrong side of the bridge, but crossing over to the right (left) side at the TL is easy.
Chain Bridge and C&O - easy connection to CCT.
Ride seems easier from Tysons to Chain Bridge rather than the other way. Once over the big hill, is is a little more up than down when headed west to Tyson's.

Confirmed that there are street lights along the entire Custis Trail, and on the W&OD from Bon Air to Lee Highway in Falls Church.

Guest

Cool. Now where is/what is Bon Air?

Koffee

cc_rider

Bon Air is the county park where the W&OD and Custis trail come together. Parking, bathrooms, picnic areas, ball field and nice gardens. Around W&OD milepost 4. Car access from Wilson Blvd.

Street lights to the Lee Highway crossing just before milepost 6. No lights past that, except for the route 7 bridge and whatever spills over from the streets.

Also confirmed that Little Falls is the first street crossing in Falls Church after Lee Highway. Gets you to Westmoreland with street lights the rest of the way.

Goosebumps

Ha! Yes, I know.....

I actually have not tried Westmornland yet, but it's just a matter of time until I do. I would like to ride that route on a "non" work day to check things out. I don't want any surprises riding to work...

GB

Goosebumps

I tried that once....only once. Jumping on Canal Road from the dirt trail is VERY tricky. There is a blind curve (for cars) where the trail meets the road. I would not advise.

GB