I live in Washington DC, and I will soon be commuting from Capitol Hill to the Army Research Lab in Adelphi, Md and am planning to do a good portion of the ride along the Northwest branch trail. I made a trial ride up there this weekend and found it a little spooky. On the whole ride from Hyattsville to New Hampshire Ave and back, I didn't see a single other biker and only a handful of pedestrians. Is it always that empty? Is it safe? Granted, it wasn't the warmest day, but it still seemed eerily deserted. Also, any suggestions on the best way to get from the trail over to the research lab at 2800 Powder Mill rd would be much appreciated. On the way up, I tried Riggs road and even on a Saturday that didn't seem like a good option, let alone during rush hour. New Hampshire also seemed not so bike-friendly, so I rode down Oakview Drive and got onto the trail there after riding down a steep, rocky access road (a bit dicey on my road bike!). Is that likely to be my best bet? Thanks!