Photo by ep_jhu.

A group of concerned Glover Park residents recently wondered about whether or not it’s legal to bike on Rock Creek Parkway. It is, they discovered, but should it be?

Georgetown Patch has more information.

After a Glover Park resident reported spotting a bicyclists using the Massachusetts Avenue NW exit ramp on Rock Creek Parkway, she started a discussion on the neighborhood listserv community about the legality and safety of bikes sharing lanes with vehicular traffic on such a fast and winding road.

U.S. Park Police Public Information Officer Paul Brooks confirmed to Patch that bikes can legally use traffic lanes, despite the presence of bike and walking paths along side the paved parkway.

A few commenters noted that even if it is legal for bikes to share the road with vehicular traffic, they felt it was unsafe.

“I would be terrified to ride my bike on the parkway during rush hour, its
less traffic more NASCAR,” wrote one commenter.

As Bike Washington pointed out, the trail along the busy Parkway is often covered with debris because of how wooded the area is. The path, which can also be used by walkers and runners, is also very narrow at some points.

Request for comment from the District Department of Transportation about any current improvements to the Rock Creek Parkway trail has not been returned.