Would like advice about our riding bikes around the Washington D.C. area.
Are there bike paths between the memorials, monuments, the mall and buildings of interest? I read a 2002 about some riding restrictions around the memorials. Any update on that would be appreciated. Looking on a map of D.C. I can't really tell how far the distances are between points of interest. I was just wondering if riding our bike be a good choice? We're brining our 5th Wheel camper and putting the bikes on the back of it would be possible.
And of course, we know to bring good sturdy locks.

There is an active bike club in DC that can answer most of your questions. check out thier webiste.

http://bikewashington.org/routes/

Aloha, We took a nice ride down from Harper's Ferry WVa to DC along the old C&O Canal Towpath and it was wonderful.

We stayed at the Metro Marriott downtown DC so at the end of the ride we toured the Mall and found it quite "bikeable".

You just have to have your head on a swivel at times (we actually saw 2 bicyclers collide because one just wasn't quite paying attention).

Don't know the exact changes they made after 9-11 but they couldn't be that restrictive for pedalers???
Everything is pretty close by so it's not a major bike ride.

If they let you into Arlington Natl Cemetary on bikes, the ride up ot Custis Lee Mansion and JFK's gravesite is a bit of a climb.

The ride thru Geo'town and Rock Creek Pkwy was pretty nice, too.
Kal

Kal, You said you rode from Harper's Ferry to DC along the old C&O Canal Towpath. How long did that take you roughly? Is it pretty flat or up and down? Any pitstops along the way?

Does anyone know if bikes are allowed on the metro in D.C. (we just returned from Amsterdam & Germany - very common)

We did some biking on the C&O Canal towpath last summer (outside the beltway, but not as far as Harper's Ferry). It's lovely, but once outside the metro area, this gravel path gets pretty rough--you really should have mountain/dirt bikes. I wouldn't even try it if there's been rain in the previous week. Some spots were so muddy as to be nearly impassable. We generally don't bike downtown so I can't comment on riding around the monuments, but I know there is a nice (paved) path from DC down to Mount Vernon. Rock Creek park can also be a lovely place to ride.

Bikes are allowed on Metro, but only on the last car.

There are no bike lanes in DC like you'll find in cities in Germany and Holland. In town,you're on the streets with the car traffic. I personally wouldn't bike around the monuments area, but I'm not good at biking in traffic. that being said, lots of people do it.

So, what you are saying is, biking in D.C. is done either on sidewalks with people or on the street with cars? No designated bike paths, not even around the higher points of insterest?

I don't know about in DC but in New York and many other cities bikers are not allowed on the sidewalks because of the danger to pedestrians. They must stay in the streets with other vehicles. If going any distance on sidewalks you must walk the bike.

Yes you can bike around the monuments, and I think it's a good idea. The mall, where many museums and monuments are located, has many wide dirt paths with pebbles. Just watch out for joggers and walkers. At one point, I'd seen something on the Washington Monument's web site that made it look as though rangers were leading bike trips, but I can't locate it. Bikes can be taken on our Metro system, check their web site for rules. Remember, wear a helmet, and know that we don't just get car drivers from all over the US, but from all over the world!

The Potomac Pedalers is the very active bicycle touring club in DC. Their website is www.bikepptc.org
Our bike club in Richmond does an annual group ride where we start at Mount Vernon plantation and take the trail up thru Old Town Alexandria to the Lincoln Memorial. The trail is nice but shared with joggers, roller bladers. In DC there are parks and the zoo grounds where you can bicycle also.

Ouch. Looks like I owed Canders a reply.

The first time I went it was me and my cousin and his two in laws, all guys, it took about 6hrs.

Went with Mrs Kal, her sis and bro and it took us almost 8hrs. We had to stop and ask directions when they came.

Relatively flat, very slight grades in some spots but nothing really mountainous.
BUT, as someone said earlier, if it rains within a day or two, watch out for mud!

When it was just us guys, it had poured a day or 2 before and some places it was like a mud bog and you had to get up outta the saddle a few times.

When it was Mrs Kal and the gang, some minor showers the day before but only spotty lengths of mud puddles.

Most of the mud bogs were up more near HFerry vs towards the Great Falls of the Potomac.
GrFalls is a nice park. About 12 miles out of G'town or a 24-25 mile RT.

Quite a few pit stops, camping grounds and wells to replenish your water along the way.
Try this website: http://bikewashington.org/canal/

Good luck. It's beautiful country.
bicyKAL.

Biking around the Mall, or around East Potomac Park (Jefferson mem'l, Hains Point, Roosevelt Mem'l) is certainly easy. Bikes are alloed on metrorail, except during rush hour for commuters, and many (all?) buses now have front bike racks as well. As for biking in the city itself, it can be a little hazardous and your best bet might be sidewalks.

There are also some nice bike trails, such as the Rock Creek Park trail which runs from Georgetown up past the Zoo (and can be turned into a nice 20 mile or so loop on weekends, using the Georgetown branch and Capital Crescent trails).

another good site is waba.org

Canders: Like JoyinVirginia, we often bike in Washington. We stay in Old Town Alexandria, taking advantage of the Mount Vernon trail, and then can connect with a variety of trails. One time road construction kept us from crossing the river, so we just packed up the bikes, crossed the river and parked our car along the Rock Creek path and biked in to the Smithsonian area from there.

We did not feel being on the road there was unsettling at all.