New Cyclist to DC

[cyclingsingle2]

Moving to DC and looking for a neighborhood.  I LOVE my cycle commutes so I don't want to live too near downtown(where I'll be working) so ideally 7-8 miles out.  I don't really know DC but would love to find a neighborhood that is cheap(super cheap, I'm poor) but maybe you can get more bang for your buck because of the lack of mass transit(which won't effect me).  For anyone familiar with London I just moved from Hackney. Perfect example...
Any insights would be great.

[ptaylor]

Dave. I see you are new to the ACA forum. Welcome.

I don't live in DC, but my son does, and he is a bicycle commuter. If you will send me you e-mail address, I will put you two in touch with each other.

PS. Don't be too concerned about spam from this forum - I have never gotten any that I know of.

Taylor.P.K@cincom.net

Paul

[tofubicycle]

Hikerdave,

Welcome to DC. I've been living here since August of 2005, having moved here from America's Middle-West. I wasn't certain what to expect in terms of urban cycling and access to recreational cycling of any type and I have been pleasantly suprised on all accounts (though those with a fondness for more aggressive off-raod riding will need a car and a bike rack to have thier fun).

Feel free to contact me off the list if you have any questions about the area. My email address is in my profile.

Cheers!

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i'd rather be biking.

[Joyce]

Welcome to DC.  However, I'm from Kansas.  I cycled the C&O Canal Path from Cumberland to DC last summer and also enjoyed the Mt. Vernon Trail to (duh) Mt. Vernon.  It seems to be downhill both directions!  There are some great websites on DC cycling, like BikeWashington.org.  Good luck!

[brad]

i live in alexandria - dc is a great city for bike touring in too, on the weekends we frequently load thekids up and hit downtown, ride the mall, to the zoo, etc.

[mlt22193]

I'm living in Alexandria and most if not all the folks who bike-commute take the Mt. Vernon Trail into the district.  If you move further out the Washington and Old Dominion Trail is the commuter trail of choice.  It connects up with other trails and eventually the Mt Vernon Trail.  WABA is a great bicycle advocacy group in this area, check out their website.  I believe they have a section on commuting where you can meet up with other cyclist who will show you the way.  BTW...nothing here is "cheap". Good luck.

[mlt22193]

One other thing...we don't lack mass transit.  Metro is pretty good.  I actually bike a block, get on the Metro, go 2 stops get off and continue on the MVT.  However, I work off peak hours so can take my bike on.  You can't take it on the Metro during rush hours.  They really need to change that.  

[brad]

mlt, where are you getting off that you are two blocks from the mvt? king street? chrystal city?

i live in kingstowne - my commute in is like mad max training; however, i go during the very early hours, clip in and out the garage about 530 before traffic gets ridiculous.

the problem with the mvt is that near the mt vernon terminus it gets really windy and you are better off on just the parkway.

the w o and d is excellent. when i lived in fairfax that is how i commuted to graduate school at georgetown.

[mlt22193]

Brad, I live near Huntington Station. I get on and get off at either Eisenhower or King.  Hit the Starbucks then I'm good to go.  I know what you mean about coming from Kingstowne.  Do you come down Franconia or Telegraph?  Either way its a nightmare.  Unfortunately, I'm switching job sites and will be out on Gallows Rd.  No more bike commute for me.

[brad]

i pick up telegraph by hayfield high school and come down until i merge onto king's hwy then pick my way over to the mvt.

sometimes i just bike over to franconia metro and ride the bus to the pentagon from there. i may try getting off at king street - never thought of that before.

gallows is bad. i used to ride that way to catch the w/o and d into georgetown. very nasty inside the beltway.

[rootchopper]

I live in Mount Vernon and commute to DC quite frequently.  The Mount Vernon Trail is great for commuting.  You could look into apartments in the Belle Haven area just south of Alexandria and near the MVT.  I agree that there is nothing cheap so no guarantees on cost.

BTW check out Bikewashington.org for lots of useful info on bike trails, commuting, etc.  They also have a very active Yahoo forum.

[Rubique]

I am in Hyattsville, close to east-west highway and kenilworth avenue. I can access the bike path (anastoca trail or something like that) and it is very cheap, altought the DC area is WAY too expensive for the average quality of the neighborhood. I can go to downtown DC in like ... 35-40 minutes

JM

[madonarosy]

Cycling in DC is dangerous but adventures . Recently i have brought a brand new Giordano Libero 1.6 road bike . I am plan to ride in various place. thank you for this topic.   

[canalligators]

...However, I work off peak hours so can take my bike on.  You can't take it on the Metro during rush hours.  They really need to change that.

Agreed, but those changes (retrofitting the cars) gets really expensive.  Yes, it should be designed in when the cars were built, but you've got what you've got.  Do they allow folding bikes at all hours?  That might be an option.  Or, for a few blocks, one of those Razor-style scooters with larger wheels might work too.