Dr. Gridlock Bikes the Wilson Bridge

Of course, he had to drive there to do it.

To reach the trail, I drove south on Interstate 295, then got lost wandering around National Harbor before I found Oxon Hill Manor on Oxon Hill Road. No more than a dozen cars were parked there and it's close to the trail head, so I'd do that again, when starting from the Maryland side.

He mentions the speed limit, and the problem with trying to enforce it (which it seems they are not - if someone gets a speeding ticket, do let me know).

Two Maryland National Capital Park Police officers were on duty along the route. They moved from spot to spot on motorized scooters. Cyclists have been chafing over the 10 mph speed limit on the trail, but the officers weren't there to ticket anyone. They were just out to offer information and make sure trail users were safe.

I had no idea how fast I was going as I cruised up and over the span, stopping at several of the observation points that bulb out from the trail.

And he has some concerns

There should be better signs on both sides of the river and there should be more options to continue travel on the Maryland side. The new trail map, showing connections for hikers and bikers indicates the Potomac Heritage Trail continues south from the bridge trail. But it would take a cyclist braver than me to ride down two-lane Oxon Hill Road from the point where the bridge trail ends.

He has a photo of a hand written direction sign, so I'll agree with him on that. The Wilson Bridge Map is frankly a bit useless unless you already know the routes described.

On his chat yesterday someone asked about connecting the bridge to Bolling Air Force Base.

the biggest problem is that on the Maryland side, there really are no connecting trails. (On the VA side, you have the Mount Vernon Trail.) I hope trail users keep the pressure up for a fix.

The Maryland side needs five new connections.

1. Along the west side of I-295 from the north side of the bridge on the Maryland side to the southern terminus of the South Capitol Street Bridge.

2. An improved connection to DC Village Lane SW (the top left of the orange line shown on the map).

3. A connection from the Oxon Hill Road bridge over the Beltway to Seneca Drive (via either Bald Eagle Drive or a connection to Cree Drive). A continuation of the green line on the map in Maryland.

4. A trail built along Oxon Run from the first connection listed above all the way into DC and connected then to the (soon-to-be improved?) Oxon Run Trail.

5. On the south side of National Harbor to Clay Drive.

DC is working on part of #1 - the South Capitol Street Trail, but even if they push it as far as I'd like (and as far as they can) it still leaves a gap from the bridge to the south shore of Oxon Cove. Unfortunately there isn't a single agency to work with, but Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club is the best place to start if you want to fix this.

Comments

[Lars]

I recently used the bridge trail an Oxon Hill road to ride to Fort Washington. Oxon Hill Road south of the bridge is nothing to write home about but it's not too bad. I don't know if I'd feel the same way if I had ridden it at rush hour though.

[Crin]

Dr. G should get props for getting in the saddle and seeing the cyclist perspective for himself. I think his fears of a bike collision are overblown. I daily commute over Key Bridge and have never seen or heard of a bike collision on a bridge. Anyone else?

[dan]

the east branch at the top of the potomac heritage trail does not actually connect at that intersection. there's a small stream, and about 40 yards of 3ft tall grass dividing them. also, the trails around oxon cove are in terrible condition.

and i wholeheartedly agree on #1. riding up the hill to oxon hill rd and the right back down and the in a big circle around the cove just to get back to 295 is silly. the pedestrian lane on the bridge should come down on the inside of the beltway as well and there should be a trail along the west side of 295 to south capital street.

[ibc]

Dr. G should get props for getting in the saddle and seeing the cyclist perspective for himself. I think his fears of a bike collision are overblown. I daily commute over Key Bridge and have never seen or heard of a bike collision on a bridge. Anyone else?

This is pretty common for folks that rarely (or never) ride. That's why every article regarding cyclists has at least a half dozen comments claiming "every time I drive to work, I kill a cyclist!"

From the cyclists perspective, things are rarely quite that dramatic.

Case in point: riding home from Haine's Point last night, a guy in a Mercedes almost ran the red light at 9th Street and Jefferson Drive ["Drivers are out of CONTROL!!"] and saw me starting across the intersection.

He locked up the brakes and slid for about 20 feet, and looked like he'd just shit his pants.

I'm sure in the telling, this'll become another example of how "I almost killed a cyclist", but I was watching him the whole time, and was out of his path if he'd continued through the light.

I was never in any danger, but I'm sure from his perspective, he saved my life with his quick reflexes.

[ibc]

"I kill a cyclist" -> "I *almost* kill a cyclist", though the original has a pleasant "Clarence & ZuZu" kind of quality to it...

[Froggie]

Saw that "homemade sign" myself the other day when I did a quick ride across the WWB.

Also of note: SHA has sort of paved their segment of the connection to National Harbor. It's not true asphalt like the main WWB trail is, but is closer to bituminous...