Rails-to-Trails is partnering with WABA and the MetBranch Trail Coalition to lead commuter convoys:
Don’t Sweat It! Monday Morning Commute Convoys on the Met Branch Trail:
We’ll show you how easy it can be to commute by bike to work downtown and you’ll get to see the Metropolitan Branch Trail as a crucial section is completed between Franklin Street and New York Avenue, creating a safe connection between Brookland, Edgewood, Eckington, NoMa and downtown!
Convoys start from Takoma Park at 7:30 a.m., see the ride flier and registration link at the RTC Oct. 1 2009 MBT Update.
Rails-to-Trails also reports in the Oct. 1 Met Branch update that D.C. is ready to begin design of the trail link between John McCormack Road and the Fort Totten Metro Station, but needs a Memorandum of Understanding from the U.S. Park Service for permission to use the edge of Fort Totten Park. I hope the Parks Dept. will not drag its feet on this. This new link would replace the hilly temporary on-road route up Bates Road with a much more level and direct off-road trail section (shown in green on the right). The Bates Road hill is the hardest part of the ride from D.C. to Silver Spring on the Met Branch for me, and I swear that hill gets a little steeper every year. I rank this trail link as second in importance only to the connection under New York Avenue among those Met Branch sections that remain unfinished in D.C.
this is where eleanor holmes norton could ride herd on the park service, and get something done quickly. if the experience with the trail stretch between rhode island and new york avenues is any predictor, i wouldn’t be hopeful…