You're right - really does get dusty - but boy did it improve the ride! Much more GAP-like - I'll take having to wipe down the bike and chain at the end of the day as the downside...

College Park to Rockville is an impressive bike commute. In the late 80s/early 90s I would occasionally bike commute from home in Ashton to work on Research Blvd. in Rockville - 12 miles. We had showers at work, so I could leave clothes at work and shower when I got there.

Back then, not a pleasant commute - much sharing of roads with car commuters vs. good shoulders, let alone paths. The Intercounty connector was being planned, which promised a contiguous bike path along its length and it would siphon off truck and car traffic from the E/W roads between 95 and 270

The latter happened, but the former promise was abandoned early on to save money in right of way acquisition and width of the bridges - we got some trail segments that are nice for recreational riding but pretty useless for commuting.