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I haven’t noticed any issues on Madison the last two evenings, tho I wonder if the African American Museum lighting/show is disrupting the lights..
It does seem tho that heading east on Jefferson in the morning requires more of a sprint to catch the light at 7th St, or I need to eat an extra donut in the a.m….

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@KWL 127446 wrote:

… Was very Portland-like. Wet but not wet. The smell of moist vegetation. Cool temperatures. Nostalgia.

..ohhhh for that view of Mt Hood in the distance…

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@creadinger 127195 wrote:

Yay! There’s no way that section was going to survive the winter as a paved road. It was a little freeze-thaw + some snow plow trips away from reverting to pot-holed gravel suitable for only 4WDs.

Hopefully the paving lasts longer than last year’s ‘repairs’ that were torn to gravel within a couple months.
I’ve pretty much given up heading north on Commonwealth between 730-8a due to the frantic parents winging open car doors near the school, joggers, SUV strollers, dog walkers, U-turners…and other assorted threats to civilization.

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TO: young woman in yellow jacket on TJ Memorial sidewalk/path about 8a today.

I am completely baffled by your riding behavior and subsequent yelling at me, so I really do hope you read this forum so you can tell me how you felt endangered by my passes, so I don’t do it again.

Perhaps you were wearing ear buds or have a hearing problem, but why would you continue to veer to the left side of the curved sidewalk/path if you did hear me (as you said later) calling- twice – ‘On Your Left’ My speed was about 12-13 mph so no TDF wannabe here. (passing with about 3-4 feet between us)

And then why would you pass me at that first light, which was red, on Maine Ave, only to then have to stop at the next red light, knowing there is a faster cyclist coming behind you when the light changes? So this time as I waited for you to start climbing that little hill, with you riding in the middle/left of the sidewalk/path, and then passed you when there was room (no pedestrians or other cyclists around), you yelled at me for passing too closely (I’m guessing about 4-5 feet between us).???
I did not call out this time, cuz I was a little peeved that you cut in front of me at the red light.

All I can say is, if you feel that uncomfortable about riding near other cyclists and you are going at a slower pace, please stay to the right.

What would have made you feel safer on my passes?

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@Emm 125861 wrote:

yes, you can actually get to the service drive without getting on to crystal drive going southbound . Just hook a left into the parking lot/road at the point where the MVT exit/water park hits crystal drive. That parking lot-ish section of the service drive leads right into the main section, and allows you to completely skip Crystal Drive.

Mucho thanks for the route info.
Going thru CC, instead of the MVT woodchipper route, added 1/4 mile to my commute but shaved off almost 5 minutes.
Can’t believe I’ve lived in the area so long and never knew that service road existed.
My life is changed forever.
😎

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@Terpfan 126001 wrote:

Have you ridden the mulch? I think his route is much safer, albeit, there is a way to do it with far less vehicular interaction. I ask if you have ridden it because those folks heading southbound are a solid 2′ above the jersey wall on their saddles. If they fall the wrong way because it’s so very narrow and made of mulch, then they are in the GWMP traffic.

By contrast, the highest speed for vehicles along the route he traveled was 25mph. Most of that route is 15mph. He went over 4 or 5 crosswalks throughout it. And, the police also ride the lanes in their segways. I think it’s less stressful to go the arrivals route, or even less stressful to take Aviation Circle for 1/5 mile to the maintenance and facility looping back to the trail.

Yeah I ‘tried’ to ride the mulch a couple times and gave up due to that very reason of not wanting my head getting planted on GWP. Over to CC for me for the coming weeks..

I think we’re talking about different routes or I may be confused about the route in the video. It looks like CaseyKane50 is going right up into the departures area and down the GW onramp. I guess that could be 25mph but I don’t think I’ve been in or seen a vehicle that was going that slow as they enter and exit there- or paying much attention to who they’re cutting off.
Apologies for my initial shock at anyone trying that..

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@KLizotte 125981 wrote:

Just keep in mind that when riding through the airport a lot of drivers won’t know where they are going and are typically very stressed, esp if they are heading to departures. They also won’t be expecting cyclists on the property. Stay safe!

I’ll be even blunter– What the h*** were you thinking? This is safe? to you? to motorists?

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@GovernorSilver 117979 wrote:

Anyway, Louisiana Ave to D St. then through the “bike trails” in Senate Park and around Columbus Circle (where the “bike trails” become actual sidewalks) seems to be a way to get from National Mall to First St. and its dedicated bike lanes.

Depending how far you’re going up 1st ST (NE?), an easier (less traffic) route I’ve found- after trying many routes around Union Station and being eternally frustrated with the amount of insane traffic and angled streets, is to continue up 3rd ST to E St, then left on 1st ST NW. Traffic gets a bit weird around the Walmart sometimes, so you can veer left to up go NJ Ave at the GU Law Center, right on I St, left back on 1st, right on K St or go thru the intersection at K to L St, which is an alleyway there. Continue across L St to 1st NE.

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@GovernorSilver 117936 wrote:

Anyway, my main area of concern on my commute route is the section between National Mall and Union Station, though perhaps I should take this to the Commuter forum.

14st Bridge is definitely the way you want to go. The Mall–Union Station route is fabulous. Follow up 15th St to Jefferson Drive and cruise all the way to 3rd St at the Capitol. Minimal traffic– and where else can you ride past incredible museums on your commute both ways!

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Success! From 14th – 7th, you have to cruise at about 18mph (no official reading, tho) to catch the light at 7th. I figured if I’m passing the Castle as the light turns green, there’s about 15 seconds to make it to 7th. From 7th-4th, you can slow back down to catch that light and then even slower to catch 3rd St light.

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After many variations of commuting to N. Capitol & L, I’ve found just continuing up 3rd St to E St, right on E, left on 1st is the best/ sanest path. The only real traffic issues can be at the Law Center, but it’s usually pretty minimal and you can just slalom around any silliness. Turning R on H St may be a bit tricky with that traffic or you could go up to I (?) or K and loop around.

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Rolled the ole dice and went for the MVT from 4MR to 14th ST BR around 830a and was pleasantly surprised (and upright) on 23 slicks that there were just a couple ice floes left that required walking. Bring on the next storm!

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Take the known route thru the ice-rink LBJ grove, dry CC, dry Potomac Ave or throw caution, and maybe myself, to the wind on 23mm death slicks on the MVT….hmmmm

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Thanks. Actually it was pretty easy to report it (maybe I caught them in a lull).
I would normally use a U lock if I’m leaving a bike for more than a couple minutes, but I figured ‘hey it’s an old bike and who in their right mind is thinking bike-stealing when it’s 0 degrees… ah well, guess the low-life, dirtball bike thievery business never takes a rest…lesson learned

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@Subby 104406 wrote:

Went the same way this evening. 14th street bridge is unacceptably bad. Off ramp down to MVT is icy crap halfway down. MVT is mostly ice but there is a lot of snow covered ground to the left and right on which you can ride (off the trail).

Things looking much better this morning, especially without the bone biting wind. Got the road bike back out and cruised up Long Bridge Rd easily thru PNT N parking lot, lagoon bridge crossing has a wide clear path and the sidewalk to the parking lot is doable tho still icy in spots. The parking lot is clear and dry, the pathway up to Humpback has some icy spots and the bridge was a walk/slow ride affair.
14st Br has some definite softening going on and with a narrow ice free path that makes it doable on slicks.
..looking for a drawer soil-staining-free ride home tonight, tho probably not on MVT.

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