Biking to work from Bethesda - Anyone done this
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Anonymous
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I work in downtown DC, and live in Ashburton/Wyngate area. Interested in biking to work on K street because my new workplace has a bike rack, shower, etc. I'm not THAT fit and haven't done it before, but I'm hoping to get fit. Alternatively, I could bike to the Metro and metro down. I do get metro benefits OR car benefits from work. The problem is that my commute is literally killing me if I don't leave super early, and even if I do, I don't exercise that early.
Has anyone done this- biked to either Grosvenor, Bethesda, or Medical Center, and metro'ed in, or biked all the way down to say, K and 12th street area? I'm assuming I'd go on C&O path for a lot of it. |
Anonymous
You can take the Capital Crescent trail straight in from Bethesda to K St by the boathouses. The trail is very busy during commuting times. |
Anonymous
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You'd almost certainly be best going on the Crescent Trail. Start by seeing what route Google Maps suggests for cycling. You can also get suggestions by posting in the DC biking forum commuting board: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/forumdisplay.php?7-Commuters&s=0f98271f9d2ffe7db0b5089359ef1dd3
Also, a great way to get started is to just do it one way each day, or even just a few times a week. E.g., bike down Monday morning, then take public transit home. Tuesday (or even later in the week), take transit in and bike home. |
Anonymous
| Try the ride on a weekend day when you have plenty of time and can take breaks along the way. How hilly is the route? |
Anonymous
A commute from Bethesda to DC is nothing, by most standards. I know people who commute from Frederick. |
Anonymous
And they all started doing things that were shorter and easier. OP, whatever you start out doing is great. You can bike to the metro and take your bike on the metro (now legal at all hours, but be polite and try to avoid the most crowded times, and crowded cars) You could lock up at the metro station (use a good lock). You could ride down the hill in the AM and metro back up in the PM. You could try to use CaBi as part of your commute. Lots of options. You will probably find in short order that your full round trip bike commute is quite doable. You may even find yourself adding extra miles to get more riding in, and joining this wonderful crazy community of dedicated riders. Good luck to you! |
Anonymous
+1 And it's mostly downhill on the crescent trail coming into DC. So it's not that hard. Tons of people do this. |
Anonymous
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Yes, my friend's father did it from Wood Acres area of Bethesda to DC and he was in his 50's. He'd get on the Capital Crescen trail and take that in. The benefit is there's no stops really so you can just go and go. Going back is a gradual uphill most of the way. I think sometimes he took the metro back -- he had a foldable bike.
You can take a full-size bike on Metro, but only outside of rush hour. |
Anonymous
Yep, a commute from Bethesda to K Street on the Capital Crescent Trail would be a pleasure. The return trip is just gradually uphill, but not too bad and you could always metro your way back. I bike regularly on the CCT on the weekends and it is a great trail in great condition. Signed, Biker to Worker |
Anonymous
As noted above, this has changed: https://www.wmata.com/service/bikes/ "Bicycles are welcome on Metrorail during all hours; however, we encourage bicyclists to be considerate of other customers and adhere to these rules when traveling with a bicycle. Bikes are not allowed on crowded railcars. Use good judgment and only board cars that can comfortably accommodate you and your bicycle. The middle cars are usually the most crowded, so consider boarding the first or last car of the train. Do not block aisles or doors of the train. Senior citizens and people with disabilities always have priority. You must make designated seating areas available if needed by another passenger. When boarding the train, use the doors at either end of the railcar - not the center doors. Bicycles may not be carried on escalators. Use elevators only. Do not ride bicycles in stations, on platforms or on trains. While wheeling your bicycle, keep both wheels on the ground and the kickstand up. Metro reserves the right to disallow bicycles during special events or other days where high ridership is expected." |
Anonymous
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I commute in from east Bethesda, about the same distance, maybe a mile or two less. I don't know the best way to Bethesda, but from there you can take the capital crescent trail all the way to georgetown, and then go along K. The path along the CCT is beautiful and it is great to be outdoors observing the seasons.
It takes me about 45 minutes there, an hour back, but I go really slowly and listen to audiobooks/podcasts. It is the best part of my day, and I get my exercise while avoiding driving/metro. I would heartily recommend it. For those of us that do it, there is no way we would ever switch to any other way. If you find the distance daunting, you could do one way by bike, and come back by metro, and then do the reverse the next day. Or you could look into e-bikes. But 11 or 12 miles each way is very doable, it won't be exhausting, particularly when you are used to it. |
Anonymous
| My husband and most of his friends bike commute downtown from Bethesda. I suggest you join the Capital Crescent Trail Users group on FB as many of them are members and they are a pretty welcoming community and willing to give suggestions. Think the challenge might be to work out the safest route from Wyngate through the streets to join the trail. Would suggest you try to find a way down quiet or back streets to Glenbrook Road as that will then lead you down to joining the CC at Bethesda pool. |
Anonymous
| OP, I’m in Alexandria to DC, not Bethesda, but I am out of shape and started biking about once a week. I love it, and I have felt myself getting stronger and stronger. I’m still the slow-poke on the trail, but at least I don’t have to walk uphill anymore. |
Anonymous
| Though they’re heavy and slow, the Capital Bikshare bikes are great for one-way commuters. Start by biking into irk - downhill! You can ditch the bike at a Cap Bikeshare site if you get too tired. No need to carry locks and worry about repairs. |
Anonymous
| Frederick to DC is an absurd bike commute. |