I live in Dogpatch and I use 17th all the time. If I want to get anywhere on the west side it’s the main thoroughfare.
I use 17th because it’s the most flat. But there’s a lot of 18 wheelers parked in bike lanes, and lots of double parking cars.
You always worry about getting doored, people just don’t watch what’s happening.
Biking is a great freedom, it increases my circumference of freedom. It’s super important.