As of May 2022, DC celebrates 100 miles of bike lanes. This milestone marks a 60% increase in bike lanes in the District and four times the number of protected lanes installed since 2015. The District takes pride in being a bike-friendly community and continues to improve and expand its bike infrastructure to make bicycling easier, safer, and equitable for everyone. In addition, DDOT is celebrating 20 years of service to residents, businesses, and visitors of the District of Columbia!
To continue growing a bike-friendly community, DDOT installed 900 bike racks in 2021 and will install 1,000 more before the end of the year. In addition, DDOT is working to expand DC’s vast network of off-street bike trails. The Malcom X Trail in Southeast opened last fall and the Brookland to Fort Totten segment of the Metropolitan Branch Trail opened in April. Improvements to the Rock Creek Trail are over halfway complete and include a new bridge near the National Zoo. Looking ahead, the city plans to install an additional 17 miles of trails over the next five years, including finishing the last segment of the Met Branch Trail to Silver Spring as well as building the South Capitol Street Trail.
"We have more work to do, but I’m proud that DC has become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation,” said Mayor Bowser on Bike to Work Day 2022. “We are changing the way people move around our city and building a greener, healthier, and more sustainable DC.”
In honor of DC hitting 100 miles of bike lanes, check out the newest bike infrastructure in your Ward below. Not sure what Ward you live in? Look it up here.
Ward 1
The District’s Ward 1 contains the neighborhoods Adams Morgan and Pleasant Plains and holds an assortment of bike infrastructure. Residents can use bike lanes, trails, and overpasses to visit local Ward 1 treasures like the National Zoo, Howard University, U-Street, the Tivoli Theater, and Rock Creek Park.
- 2 miles of bike lanes
- Rock Creek Park Trail – Download our moderate and scenic Rock Creek Park bike routes
- DDOT is halfway through a project that will make Rock Creek Park Trail more bike friendly including building a new 110-foot pedestrian bridge just south of the existing Beach Drive tunnel near the Smithsonian National Zoo to open Spring 2023.
Ward 2
Ward 2 is a bustling high traffic area that houses the White House, National Mall, Smithsonian museums, historic monuments, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown. Riding a bike to see all there is to offer is one of the quickest ways to get around the District.
- 4 miles of bike lanes
- 5 bike trails including MacArthur Boulevard Bike Path, Georgetown Waterfront Park, Rock Creek Park Trail, West Potomac Park Trail, and C&O Canal Towpath. Download our moderate and scenic Rock Creek Park bike routes.
- 1 NEW Bike Lane installed in the last year
- Wisconsin Ave NW from South St to Grace St
- 6 NEW Protected Bike Lanes installed last year
- 15th St NW from Maine Ave to E St/Pennsylvania Ave
- 17th St NW from K St to T St
- 18th St NW from Constitution Ave to Virginia Ave
- 20th St NW from G St to Massachusetts Ave
- Virginia Ave NW from 18th St to Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy
- Water St NW from 34th St to Capital Crescent Trail
Ward 3
Ward 3 comprises of not only the National Zoo but is a neighborhood with several lush parks to ride through such as: Rock Creek Park, American University Park, Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, and McLean Gardens. Capital Crescent Trail offers plenty of wide-open green spaces to enjoy a tranquil ride.
- 7 miles of bike lanes
- 5 bike trails including Capital Crescent Trail, Klingle Valley Trail, Battery Kemble Trail, Reservation 630 Trail, and Rock Creek Park Trail – Download our moderate and scenic Rock Creek Park bike routes.
- that will make Rock Creek Park Trail more bike friendly.
Ward 4
Although mostly residential, District’s Ward 4 contains the former Walter Reed Campus and Rock Creek Park.
- 2 miles of bike lanes
- 2 bike trails including Metropolitan Branch Trail and Rock Creek Park Trail – Download our moderate and scenic Rock Creek Park bike routes.
- 1 NEW Bike Lane installed in the last year
- Piney Branch Rd NW from Butternut St to Blair Rd
- 1 NEW Protected Bike Lane installed last year
- Piney Branch Rd NW from Blair Rd to Eastern Ave
Ward 5
Formerly a commuter rail village, Ward 5’s community is unique in character. It combines the charm of the 19th Century. Ride by Catholic University, Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Trinity Washington University, and Gallaudet University. The Ward is also home to the rolling hills of the National Arboretum and the great lawns of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
- 4 miles of bike lanes
- Metropolitan Branch Trail
- Met Branch Trail Fort Totten extension from John McCormack Drive NE to 1st Place NE opened in April 2022. This extension facilitates local access between the Fort Totten Metro, Catholic University, and the surrounding community.
- 1 NEW Bike Lane installed in the last year
- T St NE from Lincoln Rd to 2nd St
- 3 NEW Protected Bike Lanes installed last year
- Harry Thomas Way NE from Eckington Pl to 3rd St/R St
- Monroe St NE from 9th St to 12th St
- West Virginia Ave from 9th St to Montana Ave
- 1 NEW Bike Installed Shared Lane
- West Virginia Ave NE from 8th St to 9th St
Ward 6
Ward 6 has a myriad of neighborhood characteristics. Travel by bike to the United States Capitol, Library of Congress, Eastern Market, the H Street Corridor, Southwest Waterfront, Marine Barracks, and Buzzard’s Point. The neighborhood attracts a large biking community of residents and tourists alike.
- 5 miles of bike lanes
- 2 bike trails including East Potomac Park and Hains Point
- 7 NEW Bike Lanes installed in the last year
- 3rd St NE from East Capitol St to Massachusetts Ave
- C St NE from 2nd St to 4th St
- Kentucky Ave SE from East Capitol St to Barney Cir
- Maryland Ave NE from 3rd St to 14th St
- Tennessee Ave NE from East Capitol St to 15th St
- 12th St SE from East Capitol to E St
- Maine Ave SW from 6th to 7th Streets
- 3 NEW Protected Bike Lanes installed last year
- 1St St/Potomac Ave SE from I St to South Capitol St
- K St from 7th St NW to 1St St NE
- New Jersey Ave SE from I St to Tingey St
Ward 7
Ward 7 is the oldest District community in the northeast quadrant and is home to several Civil War Fort sites frequently visited by cyclists: Fort Mahan Park, Fort Davis Park, Fort Caplin Park, and Fort Dupont Park. It’s known for having numerous green spaces for DC residents and a growing bike culture: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Watts Branch Park, Anacostia River Park, and Kingman Island.
- 8 miles of bike lanes
- 5 bike trails including the Marvin Gaye Trail, Fort Circle Park Hiker-Bike Trail, Kenilworth Park, Fort Dupont Park Trail, and Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Download our Anacostia Riverwalk Trail beginner bike route.
- 1 TO COME: DDOT will be installing bike lanes on Minnesota Ave SE from M St to Ely Pl in later this year (2022).
Ward 8
Consider biking to the historic Cedar Hill, the home of Fredrick Douglas, Anacostia, Nationals Stadium, Navy Yard, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, and the Big Chair. Ward 8 is a vibrant community that’s rich in African American history and culture, museums, and bike paths. It also has the District’s largest green spaces: Oxon Run Park Trail, Fort Stanton, Anacostia Park, and Shepard Parkway.
- 5 miles of bike lanes
- 5 bike trails including the South Capitol Street Trail, Oxon Run Trail, Fort Circle Park Hiker-Bike Trail, Malcom X Trail, and Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Download our Anacostia Riverwalk Trail beginner bike route or our Oxon Run Tail moderate bike route.
- NEW Malcolm X Trail opened in February 2022. This 1.3-mile trail has panoramic views of Alexandria, National Airport, Rosslyn, the National Mall and monuments, the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, and the Capitol. It connects to a larger trail network that follows the Anacostia River.
If you’re interested in joining a bike group or community bike ride in your Ward, visit the Washington Area Bicyclist Association for more information. Also, be sure to download the 2022 Bike Map or request a copy by completing this form.
Happy Cycling!
