Bike Commuting in the DC area
 

Does anyone here bike commute into DC from VA and not use the W&OD? I live in Springfield and want to change my bike commute but need some help coming up with a decent route. Thanks.

Springfield's a tough one. Not too many easy, low traffic roads that cut thru.

If you're west of I-95, Backlick to Edsall. In Alexandria cross Pickett and go thru Cameron Station. Continue to the lake and cross the footbridge to the Holmes Run Trail. Take it south to Eisenhower Ave and continue to the traffic circle at the end. Go around 3/4 to head north, then right thru the little park to get to Wilkes. Stay on Wilkes to the Mont Vernon Trail. Then North to DC.

If you're on the Franconia side, you can take Franconia Road to Clermont and cut thru the opening in the sound wall to the Eisenhower Connector. Then Eisenhower Avenue and same as above.

I actually live off Backlick, this is perfect. If I am correct, I cross Pickett and continue down past the automotive shop and into Cameron Station. Thanks so much for this, i am going to try to ride it next weekend.

Yep
Backlick north of the B'way is a bit narrow for my taste. You could use Industrial as a bypass, wide with less traffic but the road condition may be iffy.
Edsall from the I-395 crossing to Van Dorn is also narrow and busy, so be careful. I think you can turn off Edsall onto Pickett before Van Dorn. Might be better than staying on Edsall.
The rest is pretty easy. There are a couple of bridges at the Cameron Station Lake. Go around the norht end of the lake and take the first one, near the rec building, that crosses to a residential area, then right onto the trail. Eisenhower Ave is just a short way from there.

Good luck