Safe to bike from Old Greenbelt to metro?

[Anonymous]

Trying to figure out a potential new commute, it looks like there are a couple of big roads with crappy bike lanes to cross over. Anyone do it? How safe does it feel and how long does it take?

[Anonymous]

It's actually very easy to bike from Old Greenbelt to the Greenbelt metro station. You take Crescent Drive to Kenilworth. Cross at the light. If you go straight across, on the driveway into the MD State Highway Administration, there is a small "fitness path" on the right. It's not in great shape, but you only have to ride it about 300 ft. This will take you to the Turner Place and the parking lot of Old Line Bank. Take Turner Place to Ivy Lane. Ivy Lane has a bike lane on both sides (one for each direction in the direction of traffic of the cars). This will take you to Cherrywood Lane. Cherrywood Lane also has bike lanes on both sides for traffic in each direction. This will let you out on the Greenbelt Metro driveway. There are no bike lanes there, but cars are used to sharing the road with bikes on the slower speed driveway. There are lots of bike racks to lock your bike up at the metro station.

Alternatively, you can take Crescent to Ridge Rd. Go north on Ridge Rd and there is a bike path that will take you to Kenilworth right across from Ivy Lane. I don't like that because you have to cross Kenilworth without a light and the traffic there is often very busy (especially at rush hours). I prefer the above path. It's an easy ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's actually very easy to bike from Old Greenbelt to the Greenbelt metro station. You take Crescent Drive to Kenilworth. Cross at the light. If you go straight across, on the driveway into the MD State Highway Administration, there is a small "fitness path" on the right. It's not in great shape, but you only have to ride it about 300 ft. This will take you to the Turner Place and the parking lot of Old Line Bank. Take Turner Place to Ivy Lane. Ivy Lane has a bike lane on both sides (one for each direction in the direction of traffic of the cars). This will take you to Cherrywood Lane. Cherrywood Lane also has bike lanes on both sides for traffic in each direction. This will let you out on the Greenbelt Metro driveway. There are no bike lanes there, but cars are used to sharing the road with bikes on the slower speed driveway. There are lots of bike racks to lock your bike up at the metro station.

Alternatively, you can take Crescent to Ridge Rd. Go north on Ridge Rd and there is a bike path that will take you to Kenilworth right across from Ivy Lane. I don't like that because you have to cross Kenilworth without a light and the traffic there is often very busy (especially at rush hours). I prefer the above path. It's an easy ride.

Great news, thanks! How long does it take? Google Maps estimates 15-16 minutes, but I find it underestimates my work to Gallery Place trip substantially due to red lights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's actually very easy to bike from Old Greenbelt to the Greenbelt metro station. You take Crescent Drive to Kenilworth. Cross at the light. If you go straight across, on the driveway into the MD State Highway Administration, there is a small "fitness path" on the right. It's not in great shape, but you only have to ride it about 300 ft. This will take you to the Turner Place and the parking lot of Old Line Bank. Take Turner Place to Ivy Lane. Ivy Lane has a bike lane on both sides (one for each direction in the direction of traffic of the cars). This will take you to Cherrywood Lane. Cherrywood Lane also has bike lanes on both sides for traffic in each direction. This will let you out on the Greenbelt Metro driveway. There are no bike lanes there, but cars are used to sharing the road with bikes on the slower speed driveway. There are lots of bike racks to lock your bike up at the metro station.

Alternatively, you can take Crescent to Ridge Rd. Go north on Ridge Rd and there is a bike path that will take you to Kenilworth right across from Ivy Lane. I don't like that because you have to cross Kenilworth without a light and the traffic there is often very busy (especially at rush hours). I prefer the above path. It's an easy ride.

Great news, thanks! How long does it take? Google Maps estimates 15-16 minutes, but I find it underestimates my work to Gallery Place trip substantially due to red lights.

I haven't done it recently, but I recollect that it's about 10-15 minutes ride, depending on where in Old Greenbelt you are starting. It's about 10 minutes from Crescent and Ridge to the metro.