Udvar-Hazy: the bike-unfriendly Smithsonian?

John Kelly was discussing the rise in parking fees at Udvar-Hazy and the change in policy that eliminates free drop-offs at the entrance (they now have to be done at the gate - which leaves a 6 minute walk) and someone called the museum

the only Smithsonian museum that is bike-unfriendly -- no bike parking or viable routes, and no cyclists are allowed through the route 50 gate.

Fairfax is half right. There is bike parking - oodles of it - I've used it, but there are no viable routes. The led John Kelly to state

I wondered about the bike parking. I don't know what happens if you show up on a bicycle. Do they consider you a pedestrian, and let you in free? Or do they raise the gate and charge you $15.

When I did it, we got in free, but I'm not sure that's policy. I don't think the shuttle from the Mall still runs, but buses can park for free.

If you ask me, (which you did not), they should really run a bike path from the W&OD trail to Udvar-Hazy - I mean the Wright Brothers were bicycle guys - with a spur to Dulles. Then rent bikes at Dulles for people with long layovers. I even know a service that could help

Travelers who prefer to explore an area by bike have an easier way to find a rental shop. RentaBikeNow.com matches bikers with stores in 144 cities in the United States and Canada. The site lets you choose your preferred dates and location, as well as bike type, size and accessories. The list of options includes rates per length of rental. From there, you can reserve and pay. Just be aware that the site charges a "convenience" fee (from $5 for one bike) for the, er, convenience

Alternatively, they could use the Fairfax County Parkway Trail (which gets you within a mile) and the path along Franklin Farm Road (expanded) to get you to Udvar-Hazy. Or, for a third choice. Drop a connection from the Fairfax County Parkway Trail to the median of the Dulles Toll Road and build a path along the Dulles Rail Line Phase II (that would take riders to the airport) and then a second BWI-Trail style path around the airport to Udvar-Hazy. So many options.

Photo by Jon Abbott

Comments

[think a little]

Depends where you are comming from, but if you take the WO&D to Centerville Rd. in Herndon, you can currently jump over om McLearan to 28 and use the super-wide shoulder for the 1/2 mile ride to the off ramp. Give the work they are doing on the Air & Space parkway, I think it will join Centerville Rd eventually saving that cut-over.

[MB]

Yes, yes, and yes some more.

[Tom]

you should start that rental business

[Paul]

You can also get to Air & Space Parkway by taking the bike path along the Fairfax County Parkway, then west on Franklin Farm Road, which becomes Barnsfield Road after kit crosses Centreville Road, then at the end of Barnsfield Road a short crossing over to the new access road to the Sully Plantation.

[washcycle]

Oh yeah. When I did the Sully Plantation route wasn't yet open. This seems much more doable. That's basically what I was recommending with the Franklin Farm Road route.