[SkateDC] Friday Night Skate Route Proposals

[George Marinkovich]

Added a fourth alternative route proposal at the bottom.

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 

The fourth alternative route proposal involves using 7th St. (or possibly 9th St.) to connect from Jefferson Dr. to G St. then up F St. to Banneker Park.  From there to East Potomac Park via the Francis Case Memorial Bridge.

Pros:
Eliminates crossing Maine Ave. and other roads in that area.
Adds a potential stop at Banneker Park.
Case bridge is a nice scenic route.
Possibly allows passing through the very pretty Mary Livingston Ripley Garden between Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshhorn.

Cons:
Will beginner skaters have trouble descending the Case Bridge?
Probably not as nice skating on 7th St. (or 9th St.) as it is on Jefferson Dr.

URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3512990 

Cheers,
George