Capital Crescent Trail tops list of best urban cycling trails in America

The Washington, D.C.-to-Silver Spring Capital Crescent Trail has received national recognition by Momentum magazine, which just placed it atop its list of 10 Amazing Urban Cycling Trails for Exploring Cities. Starting in Georgetown, the trail winds through Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Lyttonsville before terminating in Silver Spring. The CCT beat out trails in much larger metropolises such as San Francisco and Chicago for the top spot. Momentum correctly noted that the trail route follows the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, however, trains continued traveling its rails even after the B&O was absorbed by CSX, which ultimately abandoned the line in the 1980s.

Bethesda Bike & Ski opening July 15

Bethesda Bike & Ski is replacing Big Wheel Bikes at 6917 Arlington Road, in the same building as CVS Pharmacy. The shop is expected to open on Monday, July 15, 2024, according to Google. Bethesda Bike & Ski will offer equipment and accessories for cyclist, skiers and snowboarders. It will also provide service, rentals, bike lessons, and trip planning for your next outdoor adventure. Co-founders Bruce Thompson and Jeff Labow together have over 40 years of experience in the bike retail business, and aim to fill the void created by the departure of Big Wheel Bikes for Bethesda residents. You can sign up for their Adventure Club online now, and you might win a new bike or pair of skis as a result.

New bike and pedestrian crossing signals activated at Bethesda intersection (Photos)

The new bike and pedestrian crossing signals at Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane in Bethesda have been activated. They had been installed last October, but now the signals and control boxes have been uncovered and put into service. This dual crossing is part of the new Bethesda bikeway segment that connects Woodmont Avenue to Montgomery Avenue via Montgomery Lane. It is part of a larger network of new protected bikeways allowing circulation throughout downtown Bethesda, including segments near Bethesda Row.

Bethesda bikeway on Montgomery Lane nears finish line (Photos)

The leg of the Bethesda bikeway connecting Woodmont Avenue with Montgomery Avenue, via Montgomery Lane, appears to be nearing the finish line. In fact, some cyclists were using the new bike crosswalk on Wisconsin Avenue to reach Montgomery Avenue last night. Bike crossing signals appeared to be operational at the Montgomery Lane-Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) intersection. However, the covers over some of the signals had not yet been removed. 

Montgomery County planners recommend against converting downtown Bethesda one-way streets to two-way

The 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan included a recommendation in the plan to consider converting one-way streets in downtown Bethesda to accommodate two-way traffic. A new Montgomery County Planning Department report is recommending keeping those road segments for one-way traffic only, and adding separated bike lanes. The report follows completion of a formal study of the proposal, and will be presented to the Planning Board at its September 14, 2023 meeting at 2:00 PM.

The proposal for the conversion of one-way streets was promoted as a way to reduce traffic speeds, and make those streets more pedestrian-and-business-friendly. As such, it had support from not only pedestrian safety advocates, but also from the business community. At the time, Jad Donohoe of The Donohoe Companies and then-Vice-Chair of the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board said the conversion of one-way streets would be "a good thing for building owners, merchants, and pedestrians." The streets under consideration for conversion were Woodmont Avenue between Old Georgetown Road and Hampden Lane, Montgomery Lane between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues, Montgomery Avenue between Wisconsin and East-West Highway, and East-West Highway between Montgomery Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue.

After contracting with Mead & Hunt to conduct a traffic study of the streets in question, planning staff have settled on Alternative 3a, a one-way "couplet road diet" with separated bike lanes. This will maintain the existing one-way configuration for automobile traffic, while allowing completion of the downtown Bethesda bikeway. The Mead & Hunt study found that two-way configurations of these streets with road diet and Complete Streets elements incorporated (no alternative was considered that did not include a road diet for the two-way configuration), or with incorporation of a bus-only lane, failed to accommodate traffic volumes. 

Planners found that Alternative 3a would not cause traffic operation failure. Maintaining one-way automobile traffic would also make the timing and operation of pedestrian and cyclist signals and movements safer and easier. Pre-COVID-19 traffic volume numbers were used in the study, as planners allowed for the potential that 2019 traffic levels will be reached again in the future.

Montgomery Lane Bethesda Bikeway construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the status of the new protected bike lanes on Montgomery Lane between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues in Bethesda. Some new pedestrian/bike signals have been installed, but are still bagged over at the moment. The bike lane surface itself still hasn't been paved, however. I was able to find a more-recent estimate for the completion date, which was to have been April 2023, so the project is currently about 4 months behind schedule. 

Woodmont Avenue bikeway construction update (Photos)

Work is already underway on the extension of the Bethesda Avenue bikeway onto Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. The construction area has now been cordoned off along Woodmont. Concrete forms have been created for the islands that will protect the bike lanes from automobile traffic. The Streatery outdoor dining area on the roadway has been closed and cleared away.

Ghost bike placed at site of fatal River Road collision in Bethesda (Photos)

A white ghost bike has been placed at the location of last month's fatal collision at 5244 River Road in Bethesda. The victim, Bethesda resident Sarah Langenkamp, was riding in the unprotected bike lane there when she was struck by the driver of a flatbed truck. Langenkamp was a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department, who had just returned from an assignment in Ukraine in July. A memorial bike safety fund started in her name with a goal of $50,000 has already raised $267,435, as of this morning.

The bike lane (seen at right) does
not have a green paint surface or
physical separation from vehicle lanes 

Soft opening underway at Terrapin Bicycles in Bethesda

Terrapin Bicycles is holding a soft opening of its new location at 4933 Auburn Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The store has previously been at a temporary location on Nofolk Avenue. Terrapin Bicycles made news recently when it became the first bike shop in Montgomery County to receive a liquor license.

Flexposts installed along new Woodmont Avenue bikeway in Bethesda (Photos)

The new bikeway along Woodmont Avenue between Norfolk Avenue and Old Georgetown Road got a lot safer to use on Thursday. A Montgomery County Department of Transportation crew installed flexposts along the 2-way cycle track yesterday. While the new automobile and bike lanes were striped a couple of months ago, the lack of physical barriers has meant drivers were sometimes using the bikeway as a right-turn lane onto Old Georgetown.

Audi Bethesda now has bicycle loaner program

Tom Brady probably wishes his Audi dealer had what Audi Bethesda just added. The dealership at 7106 Woodmont Avenue has just launched a bicycle loaner program. It's not only the first Audi dealer in this market to have the program, but the whole concept is so new even nationally, that this article is the first in the world to report on it.

See and be seen on an Audi bike around Bethesda Row, and turn heads on the Capital Crescent Trail - a real conversation starter. Coincidentally, Audi Bethesda's service facility is on the CCT at 5206 River Road.

Photo courtesy Audi Bethesda

Public hearing set for abandonment of Grant St. right-of-way in Bethesda (Photos)

A homeowner on Roosevelt Street in Bethesda is asking Montgomery County to abandon a part of a right-of-way the County owns alongside his property. An unbuilt portion of Grant Street between Roosevelt and Moorland Lane, the right-of-way currently has a bike path running through it. It is identified on some biking maps as part of a connecting bicycle route between downtown Bethesda and the Bethesda Trolley Trail.

The homeowner currently has a driveway on 18' of the 50' right-of-way, and that is the part he is asking the County to relinquish. Abandonment would have no impact on the current trail, which would remain in place.

A public hearing has been scheduled for a representative of County Executive Ike Leggett to consider the application. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 7:30 PM in the Lobby Auditorium of the Executive Office Building, at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.

BETHESDA URBAN PARTNERSHIP, HONEST TEA DELIVER BIKE RACK TO WHOLE FOODS BETHESDA

Cyclists have one more reason to hit the Capital Crescent Trail out of downtown Bethesda today.  Bethesda's own Honest Tea built a bike storage rack made out of 15,000 Honest Kids juice pouches, and donated it to Whole Foods on River Road yesterday.  Assisting in this effort was Bethesda Urban Partnership.

Whole Foods Bethesda

Now you can take the CCT over to River Road, lock your bike at Whole Foods, and take advantage of what's in the Westbard area.  Obviously, shopping at Whole Foods is one!  You also have Ledo's Pizza, which is one of the few chains that has an original pizza recipe, rather than just a knock-off of Pizza Hut or Dominos.  How about a sandwich at Georgetown Bagelry?  The only McDonald's left in Bethesda is diagonally across the street.  At Westwood Center II, get a steak sandwich at West River Deli, or sushi at Yirasai.  Then bowl a few frames at Bowlmor Lanes.

Not bad for a zero-environmental impact Saturday afternoon.