April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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Bike to the Blossoms by brenda ruby bruby@verizon.net You will succumb to the sublime beauty of Washington in the springtime. Whether you eagerly anticipate the blossoming cherry trees or see them as a harbinger of crowds, the fluttering petals beckon to everyone but how you experience them may be the key to averting a nightmare. there is no better way to see them than on your bike and with a little bit of insider information your experience will leave you giddy, not grumpy, helping you understand why even jaded residents aren’t immune to the blossoms allure. Officially, the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival runs between March 26 and April 10. Look to the official website for information about events or just to get ideas about where to go. (www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/) Getting into Town There are several trails that head into town, but if you’re not familiar with them or need help planning a route, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (www.waba.org) offers maps and resources that can guide you. • The Capital Crescent Trail (CCT)—this paved trail starts in Bethesda (with many parking lots and meters nearby) and is a great option for families. To get to the Tidal Basin, follow it as it turns into the C&O Canal Towpath, hang a right onto the Rock Creek Park Trail, then exit that trail at the Lincoln Memorial. Note that this trail is Metro accessible and can be reached from the connecting Georgetown Branch Trail. If your youngster can’t bike the whole length, consider parking in one of the neighborhoods along the trail and join the route closer into town. (www.cctrail.org) • Rock Creek Park Trail—starting in Maryland’s northern Montgomery County and ending at the Lincoln Memorial, you could make your trip to the blossoms a near century ride! (http://bikewashington.org/trails/rockcreek/dc.htm) • Custis Trail / WO&D Trail / Mt. Vernon Trail— whether you’re coming from Purcellville or Arlington, this network of trails will accommodate the Virginia rider. The Custis Trail intersects the WO&D at the 4.0 mile marker and follows along I-66 into Rosslyn, at which point you can go left, crossing the Key Bridge into Georgetown or continue straight onto the Mt. Vernon Trail towards Arlington National Cemetery. (www.bikewashington.org) Let’s not forget about Metro! Whether you want to make your ride shorter or need to access a trail, bikes are allowed during non-rush hour times (that includes weekends). Just enter through the first or last door of any rail car. While the closest Metrorail station to the Tidal Basin is the Smithsonian, you should plan for that to be overly congested. Consider the L’Enfant Plaza station as an alternate to avoid the headaches. Once downtown, you may find biking a challenge near the congested Tidal Basin but with additional bike racks in place and a return of the popular bike valet service you can bike in then be free to walk around unencumbered. On all three weekends of the Festival, Valet Bike Parking, sponsored by goDCgo, will be available at the Jefferson Memorial on Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM – 6 PM. On Weekdays those racks will be open and available for use which cyclists can utilize with their own locks. Also, during the Festival, the National Park Service will place bike racks at Independence Avenue & 15th Street, SW, close to the Tidal Basin, which bikers with their own locks can utilize for free. A great map showing all your transportation options (including routes into 10 April 2011
town and bike valet/parking locations) can be found at the goDCgo website. (www.godcgo.com/) Tip: It’s a well known among bikers familiar with the area that East Potomac Park and Hains Point tend to be free of the pedestrian congestion which plagues the Tidal Basin and with its nearly 1700 trees, it should be an equal draw. If you’re visiting the blossoms a bit after the predicted peak, you’ll be pleased to learn that the deeper pink double-blossomed Kwanzan trees which dominate this area peak a little later than the Yoshinos which surround the Basin. • Sligo Creek Park in Silver Spring—meander along the parkway, parts of which are closed to car traffic on the weekends. • Birdsong Lane near Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg—perhaps not a bike destination unless you're local, but a quick drive down this dead-end street would make for a nice detour during your commute or weekend errands. • Watts Branch Parkway & College Gardens in Rockville—if you find yourself by Montgomery College, Rockville campus, take a ride down College Parkway, or a little further south, but still in the vicinity, try Watts Branch by Woottons Mill Park. • Cherrydale in Arlington—take the Custis Trail to North Quincy Street; Cherrydale will be immediately before you hit Lee Highway. • Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna—close to the Dulles Toll Road and Beulah Road, this may prove a little more difficult to get to by bike, but well worth the visit with over20 varieties of cherry trees in this 95-acre park. • US National Arboretum—great for biking, this is one of the best places to avoid the Tidal Basin. • Anacostia Park—you’ll find 1,200 acres spanning the river shoreline and dozens of cherry trees. • Foxhall Village—west of Georgetown at Foxhall and Reservoir Roads, the story-book Tudor-style houses are made all the more enchanting by bursts of cherry trees throughout the neighborhood. • Stanton Park on Capitol Hill—off the beaten path in northeast Washington at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, you'll find mostly neighborhood children and dog walkers beneath the cherry tree canopy at this four-acre park. 30,000 active cyclists will read your ad here! Call 301-418-1039 Renting A Ride What to do with friends or family without bikes? Rent one. There are several options with many places offering kids bikes and other specialty rides (like trail-abike attachments and tandems). • Capital Bikeshare— Cost is $5/day; $15 for 5 days. Take a bike from any station, enjoy your ride, and return the bike to the station of your choosing. With 110 bike stations around DC and Arlington you’re likely to find one convenient to you. Staff will be on hand to assist at the Independence Avenue and 12th Street location all three weekends of the festival. Trips under thirty minutes are free! (http://capitalbikeshare.com/) • Big Wheel Bikes—Cost: $7/hour; $25/day. Area locations. (http://bigwheelbikes.com) • Bike and Roll—Cost: $10-$20/2 hours; $18-$40/4 hours; $35-$70/day; actual cost dependent on type of bike rented. Location: Old Post Office Pavilion and Union Station. (http://www.bikethesites.com) • Bikes to Borrow—Cost: $45/day. Free delivery to NE and NW Washington. (http://www.bikestoborrow.com) • Revolution Cycles—Cost: $5/hour; $35/day. Location: Georgetown. Area locations. (http://revolutioncycles.com/) • Rollin Cycles—Cost: $8/hour; $30/day. Location: Logan Circle. (http://rollincyclesdc.com) • Thompson Boat Center—Cost: $7/hour; $28/day. Location: Georgetown. (http://www.thompsonboatcenter.com/) Not The Mall If visiting the Tidal Basin still seems like an act of insanity, be sure to take advantage of the beauty around town and, quite possibly, in your own backyard. Note, trees in outer areas usually blossom slightly later than those on the Mall. • Kenwood neighborhood in Bethesda—this notso-secret gem is located right off of the Capital Crescent Trail (barely a mile after the trail starts in Bethesda; turn off on Dorset Avenue which crosses the path). pack your imagination and hold on. bike virginia tour june 24-29, 2011 In 2011 the tour will visit the New River Valley. We will camp in two host towns and visit several others on the tour. An area rich in history, geology, culture and scenery, the valley is home to portions of both the New River (one of the oldest rivers in the world) and Bike Route 76 (stretches from Oregon to Virginia). The Wilderness Road, Virginia’s heritage migration route, also passes through many of the communities we will visit! Bike Raffle! Win a custom painted Breezer commuting bike painted in 2011 BVT colors! Register at www.bikevirginia.org Each adult registering for the full tour by 4/1/11 will receive a FREE Jersey! Children under 18, Non Riders, and Day Riders registered by 4/1/11 will receive a FREE T-Shirt! Brought to you by: April 2011 11
Page 1 and 2: Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlanti
Page 3 and 4: On theCover Ride with heroes and Wo
Page 5 and 6: BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA 32nd an
Page 7 and 8: It was a day that pretty much finis
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Page 22 and 23: Behind Bars Let’s Talk About Bike
Page 24 and 25: COMMUTER CONNECTION by ron cassie r
Page 26 and 27: Progress Continues on Black Rock Mi
Page 28 and 29: calendar of events To be listed, se
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Page 32: SATURDAY & SUNDAY | JUNE 11-12, 201

April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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