Cycling is an increasingly popular form of transportation among D.C. residents. A 2009 survey found that Washington had the 5th-largest share of bike commuters in the country. Recent initiatives by the city government aim to make the District even friendlier towards bicyclists by adding dedicated bike lanes to streets (even iconic Pennsylvania Avenue now has them), introducing new bicycle traffic lights, and increasing the amount of available bike parking.
D.C. also became the first city in North America to start a bike-sharing service. That pilot program was replaced in 2010 by the new Capital Bikeshare network, which has over 1,100 bicycles available at 100 stations across the entire city. Visitors may use the service for $5/day or $15 for 5 days, payable by using a credit card at the automated kiosks attached to every Capital Bikeshare station. The daily pass allows for an unlimited number of one-way trips—there's no need to return a bike to the same station where you got it!
As a result, bicycling has become a great way for tourists to visit D.C.'s neighborhoods. The mid-city area (generally bordered by Massachusetts Avenue to the south, Columbia Road to the north, Connecticut Avenue to the west, and Georgia Avenue/7th Street to the east) features many quiet streets lined with bicycle lanes. In addition, both Capitol Hill and Georgetown neighborhoods feature architecture and amenities that are perfectly enjoyed by touring around on bike.
Be aware, however, that to the uninitiated cyclist, traveling by bike on some of D.C.'s streets may be downright harrowing. Locals all have horror stories of cycling through quiet, residential streets only to come across extremely-busy traffic on some of D.C.'s main commuter thoroughfares. Bicycling on the sidewalk is legal in D.C. except in the downtown Central Business District, which generally consists of the area between Massachusetts Avenue and the National Mall. However, biking in the street is perfectly legal everywhere in the city and bike lanes are available on many downtown streets. Ride The City: DC can help you plan your routes to avoid the most dangerous areas for bicyclists.
Tourists may also take advantage of some of the Washington area's fantastic biking trails :
The immensely-popular Capital Crescent Trail is a major bike commuter trail and recreational path that connects Georgetown to Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland.
The Metropolitan Branch Trail , connects Union Station to Silver Spring, Maryland and is a great, safe way to view some of the beautiful historic neighborhoods in Northeast D.C.
The Chesapeake and Ohio towpath offers a fantastic ride along a shaded trail from Georgetown all the way to Cumberland, Maryland. Local bike shops offer bicycle rentals to visitors wishing to spend a day riding along the canal. It's also a great way to get to see the Great Falls of the Potomac River, 15 miles up-stream from Georgetown.
The 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail offers a direct bike connection between the National Mall, downtown Washington, and Alexandria, VA.
Washington's BikeStation allows visitors to rent bikes, have their bikes repaired, or arrange for temporary storage in a controlled environment at Union Station. Cycling information can be obtained here as well. If you'd rather relax than pedal, there are several neighborhood-based pedicab companies that have a prominent presence at most tourist facilities. Rates are generally affordable and negotiable (although sometimes more expensive than taxis). D.C. Pedicabs , Capitol Pedicabs , and National Pedicabs
The downtown core, including the Mall, is largely level terrain, with more hills and steeper streets generally as one rides west and north (although many neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River are also quite hilly).
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Washington, D.C.
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Washington, D.C. Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
