[SkateDC] Friday Night Skate Route Proposals

[Bill English]

I kind of like the second option, but how about using 9th street rather than 12th and then going to the Banneker Fountain and over the Francis Case Bridge into East Potomac Park? A little hillier, but very skater-friendly and interesting. We could also skip the Ellipse if we need to shorten any of the the routes by one mile.

Bill



----- Original Message ----
From: George Marinkovich <skatewash at yahoo.com>
To: WAR Skate List <skatedc at skatedc.org>
Sent: Tue, March 2, 2010 10:53:10 PM
Subject: [SkateDC] Friday Night Skate Route Proposals

All,

There was discussion at the annual meeting about the Friday Night Skate route, specifically the segment on Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th St. between Independence Ave. and Maine Ave.).  Raoul Wallenberg Place is a downhill with a traffic light at the bottom of the hill (intersection with Maine Ave.) and not very nice pavement (wavy and rough).  It was pointed out that this is not ideal for a skate which is intended to be a beginning skater's first skate with WAR.

Three alternative route proposals were discussed (to the best of my recollection) all intended to eliminate Raoul Wallenberg Place from the route, but keep the rest of the Friday Night Skate route more or less intact.

It's probably easier to look at the maps then to read the tortured descriptions.  If you have an opinion about which of the alternative routes you prefer or a new alternative route to propose let us know.

The first alternative route proposal involves skating past the Washington Monument on the mall heading in the direction of the WW II Memorial but turning south toward the Tidal Basin.  This would involve crossing westbound Independence Ave., westbound Maine Ave., and then eastbound Independence Ave.  Then we would make use of the Tidal Basin parking lot to make our way past the Tidal Basin Paddle Boat Rental and onto Ohio Dr heading toward the Jefferson Memorial (as in the current route).

Pros:
Can easily add circling the Washington Monument to this route.
The three streets mentioned above are easy to cross as they are one-way where we cross them.

Cons:
Stuck on the Park Service pebble sidewalks along Maine Ave. while heading toward Hain's Point (much like the current route).

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3512260

The second alternative route proposal involves turning left on 12th St. from Jefferson Drive.  Taking 12th St. to a left on Maryland Ave.  Proceeding toward the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and using the pedestrian bridge crossing over Maine Ave.

Pros:  
The plaza in front of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Maryland Ave. is pretty nice (it could replace the Washington Monument stop).
Avoids crossing Maine Ave. at street level and we come out on the desired side of Ohio Drive so we don't have to cross that road either.

Cons:
Requires going down a couple flights of stairs (maybe not the best thing for beginning skaters).
No longer visits the Washington Monument.

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3512279 

The third alternative route proposal involves going past the Washington Monument on the mall and going past the WW II Memorial as well.  Then heading south toward the Tidal Basin by crossing westbound Independence Ave. and eastbound Independence Ave.  Staying to the west (upriver) side of the Tidal Basin on West Basin Dr. and going past the FDR Memorial and connecting to Ohio Drive.  Left on Ohio Dr. to the Jefferson Memorial from there around Hain's Point taking Ohio Drive on to the Lincoln Memorial.

Pros:
Can easily add circling the Washington Monument to this route.
Can add a stop at the WW II Memorial.
Streets mentioned above are easy to cross as they are one-way where we cross them.
Visits the Jefferson Memorial.

Cons:
This is a 12.2 mile route if you do all of Hain's Point, 9.6 miles if you take the Buckeye shortcut, and only 8.4 miles if you omit Hain's Point entirely.
Does a stretch of Ohio drive twice.

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3512313 

Cheers,
George



      
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