🚀 go-pugleaf

"niki" <nickg@stowe.nu> wrote:
> Our family of 4 (kids are 14 & 12)will be staying at this hotel in a
> few weeks. If we bring our bikes, will we be able to access paths like
> Mt Vernon, W&OD, Custis without too many problems from the hotel? Also
> can we ride around the mall? Thanks for any other suggestions. We'll be
> in town M-F, so I guess that rules out the Rock Creek Parkway.

Some pointers and comments. I live in SW DC a few blocks from that hotel, so 
know the area pretty well.

First, I believe it is legal to ride on the sidewalks in DC, but not 
"downtown". I think common sense applies... you don't want to be riding on 
the sidewalk where there are lots of pedestrians, like around the big office 
building areas. I don't know if it's technically legal to be riding on the 
two gravel paths down the center of the Mall, but that is so common I doubt 
it would be a problem. I see them there every day of the week, many of them 
are rental bikes.

From that hotel to the various bike paths one can take a couple of back ways 
to avoid some of the traffic. You can go north on 6th to Independence, west 
on Independence to 10th, south on 10th (L'Enfant Promenade) to Banneker 
Circle. Or take 6th south to E, west on E to 7th, south on 7th to G, west on 
G to 9th (on the sidewalk, one way street), up the street up the hill to 
Banneker Circle. From Banneker Circle, there is a sidewalk on the Case 
Bridge across Washington Channel. At the west end of the bridge, go through 
the National Park Service Administration Building parking lot toward the 
river and Ohio Drive. North on Ohio Drive to under the 14th St. Bridge.

From there, either right (on right side sidewalk) toward the back side of 
the Jefferson Memorial, where the sidewalk across the 14th St. Bridge 
starts, or continue north (road or sidewalk) to the Lincoln Memorial. At the 
little circle on Independence before the Lincoln Memorial, one can go up the 
taxi and tour bus only street to the Lincoln Memorial Circle, then left and 
across the south side sidewalk on the Memorial Bridge.

Or continue north on the sidewalk along the river under the Memorial Bridge 
and follow it up past the Kennedy Center to Virginia Ave. From there one can 
continue north on the bike path along Rock Creek Parkway and up Beach Drive.

Or go left at Virginia Ave., and follow the sidewalks along the river up to 
under Key Bridge, where the Capitol Crescent Trail starts going toward 
Bethesda.

The Mount Vernon Trail can be accessed from the Virginia ends of all of 
these bridges: 14th St., Memorial, Roosevelt, and Key. The Custis Trail 
starts heading "inland" and following I-66 roughly at the Key Bridge. The 
Four Mile Run Trail and then W&OD Trails start "inland" off the Mount Vernon 
Trail just south of National Airport.

The most useful (or only) sidewalks on the bridges are on the north side of 
the 14th, the south side of the Memorial, and the north side of the 
Roosevelt. I've never been across the Key on a bike, but I believe the south 
side sidewalk is the more useful one.

Looking at a map of downtown Washington should make these directions a bit 
easier to understand.

Hope this helps.