ADVISE FOR Takoma Park/Silver Spring to DC Commuting
 

Hello all,

I live in Arlington and commute to work downtown DC. I am considering buying a house in the Takoma Park area, and wanted to get some thoughts on bike commuting to DC from there. Are there good trails or bike lanes? Are there roads to avoid? I've been looking from Sligo Creek Park to International Mall area. It looks like 7-9 m miles depending on route, which is doable for me if there are good cycling roads.

Thoughs? Thanks in advance.

What part of downtown are you headed to?

Here's the link to DC' bike map.
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1...av,|32399|.asp

Looks like several good choices - Kansas Ave, Piney Branch, 3rd, 8th, 13th, 14th. Eventually the Metropolitan Branch Trail will be finished.

I live on upper Wisconsin Ave. and work in Takoma Park, but easily scoot across Connecticut Ave. which is a great way to get downtown. This commute is so amazingly fast, safe, fun, and even during rush hours I'm hardly ever, even, passed. All this in the worst traffic area in the US.

Anyhow: Here goes, essentially neighborhoods to Chevy Chase Circle (Conn. and Western Ave.,) then out (east) on Western, which is like the frontier being so desolate, to Pinehurst Pkwy., (a little past Pinehurst 'Circle,)' downhill to the RCP i.e., Beach Dr., then about a half mile to the W. Beach,. Poplar, etc. juction, Turn two rights make your first left then your on Kalmia. The little up hill from your earlier great downhill and you are at Takoma Park.