tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post6994161587730678525..comments2023-06-29T14:49:09.314-04:00Comments on Wheaton Calling: Did you bike to work today?WheatonCallinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11549056196335967046noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post-71292155419918323312010-06-01T21:00:14.147-04:002010-06-01T21:00:14.147-04:00Hey, Anon. Thanks for the bike route info. I hav...Hey, Anon. Thanks for the bike route info. I have used 16th street to get into work when I lived in Silver Spring and I kind of forgot about that route. It's a really nice ride into the city. But man oh man, biking back up those hills is a killer. I may stick with my longer, less steep route home for now and move up to the 16th St. route once I get some stronger biking legs.WheatonCallinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11549056196335967046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post-55611601863977477932010-05-30T03:34:04.460-04:002010-05-30T03:34:04.460-04:00I've been a fair-weather bike commuter from Wh...I've been a fair-weather bike commuter from Wheaton to downtown (Capitol Hill) for a few months now. After experimentation, the route I've settled on is primarily 16 St/14th St.<br />-at the weird intersection with Colesville Road, I move from 16th St to its western sidewalk and take that to Decatur St<br />-at Decatur St, I move east to 14th St and take the bikelane (where available) to the Mall. <br /><br />I have taken 16th St all the way to its end at Lafayette Park, which would work perfectly for you (at least geographically). On the northern section of 16th St there are relatively few side streets on the west side, thanks to Rock Creek Park, making the sidewalk on that side nice for biking; also, there are few pedestrians until you cross the bridge over Piney Branch Park. It's actually feasible to move onto 16th St around the time you pass the tennis complex. Once you cross Piney Branch Park, you should definitely move onto the street; there are too many pedestrians on the sidewalks, and the flow of street traffic slows enough that you can pace it.<br /><br />I follow a similar route gong home, picking up 14th around R St and moving to (the eastern sidewalk of) 16th St at Aspen, where Walter Reed blocks 14th. Though a bit out of your way, it would be less so, and simpler, than the return route you tried. There are some pretty good hills along the way, but they build strong legs. ;-) While there are more road intersections on the east-side sidewalk of 16th St, pedestrians are just as rare on that side. The worst stretch is the uphill block between Colesville Rd and East-West Highway; the sidewalk is broken by several sets of steps, so I take the street, but it's slow going up that hill and the drivers can be impatient.<br /><br />I enjoy your blog. Bike on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post-14874180865298614522010-05-24T14:38:36.732-04:002010-05-24T14:38:36.732-04:00Thanks Anon #1, that document does make it sound l...Thanks Anon #1, that document does make it sound like you're allowed to bike on sidewalks, so that's good. I still feel bad when I have to squeeze by pedestrians, but at least I'm not breaking any laws.<br /><br />Anon #2, other than having to cross quite a few streets while biking on the sidewalks along Georgia, this didn't feel like too hazardous of a route. My ride home, especially, was on a number of roads that had bike lanes and traffic was generally light. Also, even though I linked to that article about crime on the 'bridge to nowhere', it seemed safe enough during the day when I was biking it.WheatonCallinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11549056196335967046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post-2978794586439651092010-05-24T14:14:34.740-04:002010-05-24T14:14:34.740-04:00This is very helpful information. It is a shame th...This is very helpful information. It is a shame that you have to place your life at risk in order to bike to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197116802223493433.post-88385913959714157622010-05-24T11:02:03.934-04:002010-05-24T11:02:03.934-04:00Sidewalk biking is fine in MD.
www.sha.state.md.us...Sidewalk biking is fine in MD.<br />www.sha.state.md.us/OPPEN/acom_bike_laws1.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com