I have very limited time to explain, but basically, I tried to take my commute yesterday from Alexandria, VA to Suitland, MD (the Suitland stop on the Green line), and I had all kinds of problems.

First, the Suitland Parkway Trail is so badly paved and not maintained at all. There was glass everywhere, debris, dirt, sand, etc. I was horrified.

Second, Suitland Parkway Trail just blindly ends at construction at the bridge about a couple of miles from the Silver Hill Road turnoff. So when it ended (about half a mile from the Naylor stop/Branch St exit), I just jumped the parkway. It was no biggie, but the cops got me and made me get off. I got off on Silver Hill Road, which was ok anyway, but then I started riding Silver Hill Road, and another Metro cop wannabe pulled me over and told me bikes aren't allowed on Silver Hill, and that I needed to ride the sidewalk. When I called the police in MD, they said that any road that has two lanes and a divider is considered a highway, and therefore illegal for bikes. That makes just about every road illegal! So, I need some help figuring this out.

From downtown DC, can people help me map out alternatives? Fri morning, I have to do this commute in the dark (at about 3:45am start), and I must have this mapped out and ready to go. I don't want to go too much out of my way, seeing as though I am already going out of my way by having to ride all the way into DC, then turn around and head back south into MD.

*sigh*

I am seriously considering getting a car- this is bad, because if I'm considering this, then it really is a bad commute. I hate driving.

Koffee

The only suggestion I have (since I'm unfamiliar with the area) is check the maryland LAWS not the police. Just cause they're cops doesn't mean they know the law perfectly. Virginia law says, for example:

There's nothing I can find generally prohibiting bicycles on any highway in VA. There's a provision that localities with a population greater than 170,000 can enact ordinances limiting traffic on their highways any way they want, so you may need to check local rules, but if the cops bother you again ask them for the exact law or ordinance you are violating (the one they would have to write down if they were writing you a ticket) and then go look it up. For example, if I'd failed to yield to a pedestrian while riding on the sidewalk, and I got a ticket, the ticket would say "46.2-904" on it.

Contact Eric Gilliland at Washington Area Bicyclists Association (www.waba.org), the area advocacy group. He will likely know about the Maryland laws, and may know of some alternate routes.

Sorry to hear that your commute is going badly. I thought it went okay when you tried it out with my friend?

You can get a free Maryland Bike Map here:

https://www.sha.state.md.us/SHAServic.../OPPE/maps.asp

It shows which roads are restricted--usually only Interstates, some US routes, and roads with speeds over 50 MPH not striped for bike lanes (and, even so, some of these have very wide shoulders that you may still ride on).

This is certainly QUITE untrue. MD-3 for instance is 2-3 lanes each way, divided with businesses in the median, and a good chunk of my commute. It's perfectly legal for bikes to be on and on the Maryland Bicycle Map that stretch is even marked green, as in 'great for riding on', because it has nice clean 8 foot shoulders with good sight lines. It's not limited access, of course.

Although, it's not even true that limited access roads are universally forbidden to bicycles - the section of the limited-access MD-32 between MD-175 and MD-198 (up near Fort Meade) is signed and pavement marked for bikes to be on the shoulder.

If you go to the MDOT website they'll send you a maryland bicycling map for free. https://www.sha.state.md.us/SHAServic...s/freemaps.asp

My commute is from Odenton to Bowie- I work near the US-50 MD-3 US-301 interchange. I've never been hassled by the cops about where I'm riding, but I'm mostly diddling around in Anne Arundel and the very northern sliver of Prince George's county.

I guess you can also use the metro as long as you aren't using it from 7-10AM and from 4-7PM M-F; all the other times are good.

I reckon also that the cops might be hassling you extra because circa Suitland is a semi-trifling area. Getting across the Potomac is such a pain.

Wow, I've never had that much interaction with the cops. Maryland law is among the most restrictive in the nation: cyclists must use a bike lane or shoulder if it is present -- but not a bike path or sidewalk. Bicycles are banned from any road with a speed limit of 55 or greater. But other than that, cyclists have the right to use the roadway.

So every cop you talked to was absolutely wrong. As a practical matter, I'm not sure how much good that does you.

Uuugh.

Well, I ordered the map. Thanks to all who recommended that website for the free MD bicycle map.

The Parkway is 45 mph. So if bikes are restricted from riding 55 mph, then it should be fine. Unfortunately, it's not going to work. They definitely don't want bikes on the parkway. *sigh*

Today, I got lost like 3 times (and badly!) trying to get to work. I thought I'd be able to take M street to Pennsylvania, but unfortunately, M runs UNDER Pennsylvania. So I ended up taking the Chain bridge across, then riding through "the Ghetto" on Good Hope Road to Pennsylvania. From there, I was able to take Branch Ave to Silver Hill Road. Today, riding on Silver Hill was no biggie- lots of cars, but no cops, so no problems. Still... uuuugh. I left out just after 9:40am, and I got in at exactly 11:00pm. I hope that I can shorten this up by taking Independence Ave to Pennsylvania and just riding up Penn Ave to Branch Ave, then cutting across Old Silver Hill Rd to Silver Hill. Hopefully, it'll work out until I figure something else out.

Any ideas?

Koffee

P.S. I can't take metro... I need to be at work sometimes at 5am, so there aren't any trains, and other times when I need to be in later in the morning, bikes are restricted. *sigh*


Koffee

I have no personal knowledge of this area either, but I do have the latest (6th edition) of the ADC Bike Map for the Washington, DC region. Silver Hill Road is identified as a an unofficial/unsigned bike route in the area where you want to go (according to the map, "Route identified by experienced cyclists for scenic quality or links to other routes). I doubt that ADC would identify an illegal unofficial route. So I concur with the other posters, those cops, at least the one talking about Silver Hill Road, were wrong.

One other thing I noticed was that Suitland ROAD was identified as an unofficial/unsigned bike route in Maryland around that area. If I were coming down Pennsylvania Ave to Branch Ave, I'd probably try turning left off Branch Ave onto Alabama Ave which turns into Suitland ROAD in Maryland. That will take you out to Silver Hill Road where you can make a right towards the Suitland Metro. Branch Ave in the District is identified as an unofficial bike route and Branch Ave in MD isn't. However, as stated above, both Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road are identified as unofficial bike routes. I haven't done any actual riding over there, so this is just an alternative to try.

Koffee, knowing how much you like mass transit I suggest you avoid the #23 bus!

https://www.cpabc.org/mdlaws.htm
https://198.187.128.12/maryland/lpext...s-main.htm&2.0
https://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd...icyclists6.asp

I think Suitland Parkway is under US Park Police control and is exempt from MD laws.
But Silver Hill should be legal to ride.

Is Suitland Road an option? Or Pennsylvania Avenue to Shadyside.

Good point. You are correct. https://www.nps.gov/nace/suitlandparkway.htm . Bicycles are prohibited: https://www.nps.gov/nace/supt_compendium_2005.htm (section 4.30).

Folded bikes aren't restricted during the quasi-high peak hours.

Are there bike trails proximate the beltway? It looks likes Suitland is closer to the beltway rather than downtown DC. If so, you could hail yourself a cab to transport you and your bike accross the Wilson Bridge (I'm assuming there are no sidewalks accross the Wilson) and commute from there. Although some of that advantage might disapear depending upon where you live in Alexandria.

I've thought about doing the ride across Wilson bridge, but really... how many cabs would be willing at such a low fare, and how many would just be out meandering on the Alexandria side of the Wilson bridge at about 4am? Very few.

I am going to try the Suitland Road thing... BUT I probably will not if it means I have to deviate even farther away from my destination just to get to a road that's legal. I'm already going way out of my way by coming into DC, then further out of the way than that by riding Independence to Pennsylvania, then heading into MD via Capitol Hill.

Today, I rode Independence to Pennsylvania, then turned right on Branch and took Branch Ave to Silver Hill Road and cycled down to my job with no problems. Well... Branch has a terrible hill I have to hike over, and I hate descending in the dark, but hey.... it got me here on time!

I will probably start riding my folding bike. I haven't had the time to take it out of my suitcase, but my plan is to assemble it this weekend. That ought to help me through the train schedules on days when I don't have to be in so early, yet I'm leaving out during peak hours on the train.

Koffee

Koffee,

As far as roads you are not allowed to ride on here is the list (which your roads are not on):

https://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd...icyclists6.asp

Basically we are only prohibited on roads with speed limits over 50 mph unless we are allowed to use the shoulder (§ 21-1205.1.)

In MD it is illegal for a cyclist to ride on the sidewalk unless allowed by local ordnance (§ 21-1103) and as far as I am aware Montgomery County is the only place in MD that allows sidewalk riding but does not require it.

Next time you have a run in with MD police if you could get the badge numbers and send them to me I would appreciate it. Basically if the police are wrong, be polite and try and state your case. It is really sad but most police are not trained in bike laws or in matters regarding cyclist’s safety, so they can be just as clueless as most motorIST.

Link to look up MD laws:
https://198.187.128.12/Maryland/lpext...s-main.htm&2.0

-=Barry=-

Well, I'll get the Metro transit wannabe cop's info for ya. Him stopping me in the middle of rush hour traffic in the middle of Silver Hill Road as I was preparing to take a left into my job parking lot was not only ignorant, but dangerous. No problem there- I'll head over to the Metro and call over there for good measure.

Thanks for the clarification with the laws!

Koffee

There used to be a 13P Eastover-Pentagon bus that crossed the Woodrow Wilson Bridge-but it appears to have been dropped about 1-2 years ago. Wouldn't have helped you at 4 am, but the other times would work.

There are plenty of hotels in Old Town and just south of the beltway on Rt. 1 you could hail a cab at those locations and drop the folder in the trunk.

You're travelling on bike through some of the most dangerous parts of DC. The glass on the bike trail is the least of your worries. There was a commuting cyclist killed about 1-2 years ago in the northern part of your SE DC commuting area in daylight in traffic. Violence and shootings abound over there. You ought reconsider against cycling that way to work.

I'm not planning on not riding through DC. If I detour any more, I'll be detouring to Pennsylvania!

Think of something that works for me, and if you can't, then please... don't post with your stranger danger stories.

Koffee

There are parts of Anacostia that are not so great, but certainly not all of it. I mean, have you been to Anacostia?? If not, I suggest you go and visit. It's really quite pleasant with many neighborhoods of well-kept houses, tons of parks, and fantastic views. Let's not start painting with that broad brush, please.

Koffee, I think you're on the right track, and it sounds like it's starting to work out. Do keep us posted.

Yes!

Well, I've got the BF out, but it does need an overhaul of some sort. I will probably do some maintenance work on it, then take it in to a BF dealer to fix the rest.

I'm still a bit tired, and I have to be up early in the morning to repeat the ride, but I think I've figured it out- I will just ride to Capitol Hill and catch Pennsylvania Ave, then ride the route I posted.

As a bonus, I did get the Maryland Bike map. I didn't expect to see it for weeks. They are fast!

Koffee

If my memory serves me, there have been more bikers assualted in NoVa than in DC over the past two years. I've been biking in DC for the last three years, on both shores of the Anacostia. I fear unobservant drivers, like the SUV that hit me on Gallows road in 2003, a lot more than the anyone I've come across in DC.

As an update.... the commute is going pretty good, considering that I'm out there riding at 4am. Tomorrow is the second rush hour traffic commute, so we'll see how it goes when I'm struggling up those hills at 7am in Maryland! I ride into DC, then take Independence up capitol hill to Pennsylvania, then I ride up to Branch and from there, I can catch Silver Hill... I'm there! My goal is to get that ride down to 55 min.

I've also lost 4 pounds since I started my job.

Thanks everyone!

Koffee