by Greg Roberts
Yesterday, members of the DC Bicycle Advisory Group met up with local neighbors to ride along RIA from Logan Circle to Eastern Avenue to record the conditions for bicyclists along the Avenue. More to come on this from Kyle Todd, FoRIA member and part of the group that surveyed the Avenue, but as he stated, “the goal of the ride was to look at ways to improve the cycling infrastructure along RIA to make it safer for cyclists, pedestrians, AND cars”. In addition, last month, Chairman Kwame Brown announced that he was directing Capital Bike Share to install a Bike Share station at the Woodridge Library. We also have the option to use the Metropolitan Branch Trail that cuts right behind the Brentwood Shopping Center and RIA Metro station. All of this is great news for those that like to hit the road or trails on two wheels or run or take a nice walk.
But there is also some nearby hidden gems right up the street (albeit, on the other side of the border with MD) that makes for a beautiful bike ride, walk, or jog during the day. This morning, my partner and I biked the NE Branch Trail (seen to the right) and we love the quiet of the morning ride and the scenery, especially around Lake Artemesia (which is next to the University of Maryland). This trail runs next to the brooks and through the woods, up next to a baseball fields, and the trail also boasts some workout equipment if you are feeling extra spunky on a Sunday morning (I decided I would pass on the equipment so early). The path also gives you opportunities to rest along it at places like the Denis Wolf Rest Stop. Now, the trail we took this morning isn’t the only one and the good thing about all of these trails is that they are interconnected for the most part so you can get around pretty easily. More information about this and the other trails is available at Bike Washington.
Another thing that you can do just north of us if you like to skate board or have children that do, is visit the newly constructed skate board park located at Melrose Park along Rhode Island Avenue.
So, get out there and enjoy the fact that we live so close to so many things like the Anacostia Tributary Trails.
