Connecting Herndon metro station & W&OD trail
metak8
Herndon metro station is close to W&OD trail; my explorations yesterday revealed 3 cut-thru options to/from trail & Herndon Parkway & Spring Street. The furthest east cut thru is natural surface goes to NW Federal Credit Union and is closest to intersection of Spring St. & Herndon Pkway. The middle one is also natural surface, muddier than the furthest east one, and accesses a private park with seating and bike repair station. The furthest west cut thru is paved. This area is dominated by commercial private property; as such, I could not find any bike-friendly ways to get to/from Herndon metro station without traversing multiple parking lots and/or riding on Herndon Pkway & Spring / Van Buren Streets. Walking between the commercial properties is the easiest way to connect them if you have discomfort riding on Herndon Pkway & Spring / Van Buren Streets.
Bruce A. Johnson
It's really pretty easy. Go south on Van Buren St. from the W&OD. Turn right at the next traffic light to remain on Van Buren. Follow Van Buren across Herndon Pkwy. and turn left at the intersection with Worldgate Dr. On the northeast corner of the intersection, you will find a multiuse trail threaded between the parking lots that leads to the station. Go around the station to the southeast corner to find bike racks and lockers.
The stretch of Van Buren to the first turn has a sidewalk if you really must ride on one, but as all of the roads are posted at 25 m.p.h., it shouldn't be that daunting. The stretch of Van Buren from that first turn to Herndon Pkwy. has bicycle lanes.
Here is a crude RWGPS cue sheet. I don't have time at the moment to make it better.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44639415
Bruce A. Johnson Herndon, Virginia
Herndon metro station is close to W&OD trail; my explorations yesterday revealed 3 cut-thru options to/from trail & Herndon Parkway & Spring Street. The furthest east cut thru is natural surface goes to NW Federal Credit Union and is closest to intersection of Spring St. & Herndon Pkway. The middle one is also natural surface, muddier than the furthest east one, and accesses a private park with seating and bike repair station. The furthest west cut thru is paved. This area is dominated by commercial private property; as such, I could not find any bike-friendly ways to get to/from Herndon metro station without traversing multiple parking lots and/or riding on Herndon Pkway & Spring / Van Buren Streets. Walking between the commercial properties is the easiest way to connect them if you have discomfort riding on Herndon Pkway & Spring / Van Buren Streets.
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metak8
Bruce A. Johnson
Hmm. Going west on Herndon Pkwy. to get on the W&OD would
seem to me like a poor way to go. The parkway is mostly signed for
35 m.p.h., but I routinely see people doing something like 45-50.
The curves are continually changing, which requires serious
attention by motorists. While I don't consider the parkway too
dangerous to ride (because am either used to traffic and/or an
idiot -- take your pick), I don't enjoy it during busy times.
The only place the trail intersects with the parkway is on the
east side of town, with loose crushed gravel paths to access the
trail. That looks to be about the same distance from the trail as
going via Van Buren for access to/from the east. If you're going
west, Van Buren is the most direct. There are some back streets
that can get you closer to downtown, but I still get lost on them
unless I review a map before going that way.
The bike lanes on Van Buren were put in as part of the town's improvements for the new Metrorail station. They are a significant improvement over the previous substandard-width lanes, and I feel less like an annoyance to motorists with them. Ironically, the week they opened, there was a collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle. I don't know any of the details, but I remember the traffic alert that came from Fairfax County. It's still more pleasant than Herndon Pkwy.
I hope this is of some use.
Bruce A. Johnson Herndon, Virginia
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