I had a buddy used to ride the C&O towpath to work. He said winter time was crazy - everything frozen, quiet, and slippery AF. I visited him once and it was amazing how much faster riding that path into the capitol was. I was blown away how many people didn't use it, but access was shitty - we had to hike down dirt trails to get to the path so i understand why people in office clothes would not be into it. Once you're on it though, it is chill and well paved and takes you right into the heart of everything, hell they even had a bike bridge to Arlington.