Metropolitan Branch Trail: Fort Totten to Union Station and Beyond

**Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride will be postponed (possibly replaced with another ride) if the chance of rain is above 29%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 14 mph (per Accuweather) **

TRAIN OR BUS STOPS
Fort Totten Station
BIKE REPAIR SHOP
NA

PARKING AND MEETUP SPOT
Park at Fort Totten Station.

Arrive by 10:20 so you have time to prepare your gear and test-ride your bike. Meet us in the parking lot by the fence facing the road by 10:30 latest to check in. After check-in, we’ll do an icebreaker question and then start the ride. ---If you're running late, post your ETA in the comments so we can decide if we want to wait for you to catch up at our regroup stop.

BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY
This is a very different type of bike route for us compared to the usual rail trail for several reasons: 1) There is still a train line in use running along the trail!, 2) This trail takes us into DC where we can easily connect to bike friendly paths and lanes for sightseeing, 3) This trail has a lot of fantastic mural art, and 4) This trail is more urban than the other trails in Maryland that we ride. It connects several neighborhoods. Riders will see a large variety of colorful and mentionable graffiti wall art, urban art, a dog park, outdoor movie area, garden areas, and restaurants along both sides of the path. See attached images for an idea of what it's like.

We’ll start from the Fort Totten Metro Station and bike straight down along the Metrorail to Union Station - about 4.6 miles. We’ll stop to regroup at least once along the way. We will stop at Union Station for water/bathroom/ a visit inside. Participants can return from there or continue biking with us.

Next, we'll bike over to the Capitol, National Mall, and some surrounding points of interest. We'll take a break and then return the same way. We expect to do about eight miles each way.

If you’re interested in stopping for lunch somewhere, let us know in advance. One nearby option is Bryant Market and the very cool Metrobar (right off the trail). It's the 2024 winner of Best Bar in DC. You can opt to eat/drink in the refurbished metro car or outside in cozy seating areas. They sometimes have food trucks parked there as well.

TYPE OF BIKE: Any kind of bike frame and tires. Ensure it is the correct frame size for your height so you can get maximum output. Participants are responsible for ensuring their bike tires, brakes, and chain are in good condition and they have a spare tire on hand. Organizers can try to help but aren't responsible for everyone's bike conditions.

SKILL LEVEL: All levels can enjoy this trail. It is well marked and mostly flat.

PACE: It’s up to you. Most of us are casual riders. Some of us like to do a cardio workout at some point. Since paved trails can sometimes be crowded, we don’t have expectations of being able to go very fast. If you prefer a faster or slower pace, feel free to let the group know before we start. We often regroup at certain points so everyone can ride at their own comfort level.
DISTANCE OPTIONS
Participants can choose to return whenever they feel like it. These are just suggestions.
OPTION A: Bike 3 miles out and back.
OPTION B: Bike 4.6 miles to Union Station and back.
OPTION C: Option B plus continue on with the organizers to ride around the monument areas for a couple more miles before returning.
OPTION D: You can add on miles by connecting to additional bike trails.
TRAIL HISTORY
When completed, the Metropolitan Branch Trail will start further north, from the Silver Spring Metro station down to Union Station, for eight miles. It is very flat, maybe 40 feet of elevation change. To learn about the history of how this trail was conceived, see Metropolitan Branch Trail - Wikipedia
BATHROOMS
Union Station
Retail establishments that can be accessed from the trail.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Bring: Water bottles, snacks, biking gloves, bike bell, bike lock, helmet visor, sunglasses, bike tube, pump, patch, first aid kit, mobile phone with nav app installed (e.g. Google maps, we use RidewithGPS). If you get leg cramps during or after a ride, take electrolytes before and during your ride (or add salt and magnesium to your water). A change of clothes for your ride home or a car seat cover to absorb sweat.
Clothing: Wear biking gloves and durable clothing so that if you do fall, your skin is protected. Avoid wearing all black, all grey, all dark brown, or all dark blue, which blends in with pavement, especially while riding through a shady segment. Consider wearing something lighter to help others notice you.
Be proactive to avoid a fall/crash and minimize injury:
· Keep a distance between yourself and other bikers. If the biker ahead of you suddenly stops, you should be able to avoid hitting them.
· Don’t make stops on the trail. Pull over to the side and use hand gestures to let people know you’re slowing down to make a stop.
· Yelling out “Passing on your left” and/or ringing a bike bell as you approach people ahead of you, so they don’t inadvertently move in your line of travel.
· Slowing down to wait, rather than speeding up when trying to pass people at the same time walkers/bikers are approaching you from the opposite direction.
· Avoid potholes and debris and slow down when approaching bumps
· When approaching road crossings and iffy situations, triple-check before crossing and don’t let yourself be distracted by talking, etc.
· Ensure your helmet is tightly secured so that it won’t move if you hit the ground.
MEETUP POLICIES
· Participants should understand that biking is an inherently dangerous activity, and an accident could happen at any time. Participation is at your own risk.
· An RSVP of “Yes” to an event is your digital signature acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree with Meetup’s and MD Rail Trail Biking’s policies, esp. section 6 “Release” and section 8.2 ” Limitation of Liability,” found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/