JohnBrooking

Howdy,

I'm a commuter in Portland, Maine, who will be travelling to DC tomorrow for the National Bike Summit. I'm staying with a WABA member in Alexandria (E. Mason Ave.), and am bringing along a folding bike to try commuting from there to the summit, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW. I'm told it's about 10 miles.

I'm guessing I'll be coming up to the river on either Route 1 or Mt. Vernon Ave. My host says he has only biked crossed on the Route 1 bridge. My question is, is that the best bridge to take, or would you recommend another? I'm comfortable riding vehicularly in car traffic. The Arlington Memorial Bridge looks very scenic. No shoulder, so I wonder how congested it would be at rush hour and how the motorists react to having a bike in the travel lane. Plus, the roads approaching it look kind of gnarly, although is that a bike path I see going under the bridge entrance on the VA side?

Recommendations, please? Maybe even a ride partner? (I'll probably be riding Wednesday, but will want to leave by 6 AM to get there by breakfast at 7.)

Lastly, how does bike commuting compare to public transit in terms of time taken (in case transit is faster and I decide I really need to be on time even if it means not bike commuting)? Perhaps with a folder the fastest option would be to combine the two?

mjw16

Mount Vernon Ave to (right) Commonwealth Ave, all the way down to where it dead ends behind Jack Taylor's Toyota, make a right on the MUP (just off cul de sac) take that to the sidewalk (which paralells Rt. 1), make left, over bridge, make left at immediate end of bridge, down the hill, bear left at bottom (essentially a U-Turn) continue on trail, underneath Rt. 1, that will drop you off on the Mount Vernon Trail (beside Reagan National Airport). Take trail to 14th. Street Bridge (after airport, rugby fields, Dangerfield Island), make left after passing underneath bridge, across 14th. Street bridge (in pedestrian lane), around Jefferson Memorial to 15th St. (Raul Wallenberg Ave) and Main Ave. Cross at light (Bureau of Engraving, National Holocaust Museum on right), follow 15th for about 4 blocks, right on Constitution Ave., left at 14th Street, Reagan Building is 1/2 block down on right.

Can you tell I've done this before? Exactly 6 years, year 'round. I didn't know there was a bike summit here today, I'll have to come down at lunch to check things out. Will you guys be doing a ride today? If so, what time? Seems I've seen large numbers of riders around this time of year, in year's past, but wasn't sure what to attribute it to. Should be a nice day for a ride.

mjw16

After having my coffee (and re-reading your post), I see that you'll be coming downtown on Wednesday, not today. As such, the directions still apply, but I could meet up with you and ride you in. I typically leave the house just before 6 am and could meet up w/ you somewhere (I was thinking the corner of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth-there's a Suntrust Bank we could use as a landmark) if you'd like, we could say 6. Depending on time we could take either the 14th St. bridge or Memorial Bridge, the former is nearer but the latter more scenic, you could factor in an additional 10 to 15 minutes. In any case, the bulk of the commute is on the Mount Vernon Trail and completely separate from car traffic. You'll only have to contend with traffic on the surface streets to the trail and for a few blocks in DC, at that time of the morning it's no big deal. Let me know what you'd like to do, I'd be happy to lend any other advice you may need.

JohnBrooking

Thanks, MJW! I think I'd like that. I'll PM you with my contact information.

The Summit is tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon through Friday morning. Friday morning there is a "Congressional bike ride", summit attendees riding with members of Congress. Details here.

JeffC

I come from Falls Church, not Alexandria, but work across the street from the Reagan Trade building. I'd just cut across the National Mall once you get to the Holocaust Museum. You can cross Constitution at 12th Street. There is less car traffic and a it is a little more scenic. If you do this, the Reagan building is about half way between Constitution and Pennsylvania on the left side of 12th Street, near the Federal Triangle Metro stop.

The Summit is not free but I have to work those days anyway. However, the Adventure Cycling Association is having something on Wednesday night after work for its members which I am going to attend.