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Over the years I’ve lived in the Washington D.C. metro area (“DC”), I’ve tried various techniques for commuting. All these techniques have been focused on making the best of a truly sucky situation. The best technique was, of course remote work and just not commuting at all. But, since the end of March I no longer have that option.
So, my latest and probably last pre-retirement commuting technique involves commuter trains and bicycles. Call it “alternate commuting for this modern age.”
The Best Commute Is No Commute
When Winnie and I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina last year, I opted to work one more year prior to retirement as a remote worker. It was an ideal working environment; I got to work from the confines of my home office and no one in DC noticed. Especially as all my team members were also working from their home offices, abet closer to DC.
Telework and remote work ended for all government workers effective this past March, thanks to the millions of voters who put Trump back into the Whitehouse. So, at the end of March I was back living in Woodbridge, Northern Virginia, commuting to my office every day doing the same work I was formerly doing from home. Which then led to my dilemma of “how do I get to my office?”.
Sizing Up the Options
My office is in an out-of-the-way part of DC, with limited public transit access. I quickly learned that pre-pandemic commuter options atrophied during the great shutdown and never came back. Most notably, this includes “,” which is now a shadow of its pre-pandemic glory. My first few days back in DC I drove myself to work. Which quickly reminded me why I hated daily commuting, as DC traffic is among the worst in the U.S.
The one commuter option that seemed viable was the , a commuter train line running through Woodbridge with a stop at La’Enfant Plaza in DC. The Woodbridge station is a bit over three miles from where I’m living. The La’Enfant Plaza stop is just under four miles from my office. So, I’ve found a workable way of getting some exercise with my commute by bicycling to and from the VRE stations.
Enter The Bicycle
I’ve always enjoyed bicycling, although I’ve tended to go years between serious biking activity. Winnie owns a six-speed beach cruiser-style bike, and I’ve owned an eighteen-speed mountain bike. For most of the years we lived in Woodbridge, our bikes sat in the garage unused. But a couple of years ago Winnie got us alternating afternoon exercise walks with biking. Which reminded me of why I enjoy being on a bicycle.
Then, this past January Winnie spotted a lovely bike for sale at a local thrift store. She snagged it, then called me on her way home to announce she’d just bought me a new bicycle.
It turned out to be a Fuji “Cambridge” model year 2000, a twenty-one-speed city/commuter-style bike that looked as if it had never been ridden. It has a “step-thru” style frame that makes it easier for me to mount and dismount, as compared to my mountain bike with a top-tube frame that I have to swing my leg over. So, I cleaned up my new-to-me bike, added a few accessories, and started riding it. When I learned I’d need to go back up to DC for my final few months of work prior to retirement, I decided to bring this bike with me.
Bicycle-Friendly Region
Once settled back into Woodbridge I did some research on bikes and commuter trains. It turns out this region is extremely “bicycle friendly.” Bikes are allowed any time on both the local , and the VRE. The VRE actually has a designated spot in each rail car for storing bikes while riding.
Some regional commuter bus lines even claim to have bike racks for their riders, but I haven’t seen one of these busses as yet.
The DC streets also seem to be very bike friendly. Most of the route between La’Enfant Plaza and my office has designated bicycle lanes separated from the roads by physical barriers. Which gives automobile drivers less opportunity to run over a bicyclist. The bicyclists just have to watch out for pedestrians, especially those who walk around wearing headphones, completely oblivious to the world around them.
The route between where I’m staying and the Woodbridge VRE station is not as bike friendly as in DC. No bike lanes here so I have to either share the road with cars or use the sidewalks. But drivers seem to mostly respect bicyclists here, as opposed to what I experienced while living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Bicycle – Train Commuting
Since the beginning of May I’ve made bicycle commuting a major part of my weekly routine. Depending upon weather I ride my bike and use the VRE at least three days each week. It seems to be working out well. The only tricky part of my commute is timing the train schedule.
The ride from home to the VRE station each morning is literally all downhill. I’ve found I can bike the three miles almost as fast as I can drive. Riding the VRE is not an issue, other than getting my bike into and out of the train. The station platforms are all low, and I have to carry my heavy bike up and down four steep railroad car steps.
Once in DC, I use the designated bicycle lanes which makes for a pleasant ride. Part of this route runs through a park along the Potomac waterfront. I do have a bit of an uphill climb the last half mile, but it’s not bad. My office building provides ample free bicycle parking inside the parking garage. I park my bike among dozens of other bicycles, eBikes, and electric scooters used by my fellow office workers. I also have access to a designated changing room so switching between exercise clothes and office clothes is easy.
A Decent Workout
Coming back home in the afternoons is more challenging, as what comes down must go up. Climbing the three-mile-long hill from the VRE station back to home has been challenging. And a serious workout. But this is the most rigorous, consistent workout I’ve had since moving to Charlotte.
I guess it’s nice that I can make my commuting into something worthwhile.
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