A long-awaited segment of the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail in Hyattsville will open Tuesday.

A small group of local and state officials will gather on the morning of Dec. 5 to officially open the half-mile paved segment stretching from Farragut Street south to Armentrout Drive.

The trail extension is important because it will connect the trolley trail to paths along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, which heads towards Montgomery County, and the Northeast Branch, which leads to D.C.

Bicyclists previously had to cross the heavily trafficked Rhode Island Avenue and ride along a narrow shoulder to connect to the other trails, discouraging casual cyclists and families with younger children.

The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation is planning its own celebration of the trail extension for Saturday, Jan. 20.

A small group of local businesses are also running a “pub crawl” along the path to celebrate the opening.

Stop by Franklins, Maryland Meadworks, Pizzeria Paradiso, Shortcake Bakery and other local businesses between Dec. 5 and Jan. 6 to pick up a punchcard that will get you discounts and turn in your completed punchcard for a chance to win prizes.

Or you can join a group of local cyclists on two celebratory rides along the trolley trail on from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The rides, co-sponsored by Arrow Bicycle and Proteus Bicycles, will gather at Shortcake Bakery and at Proteus at 12:30 p.m., and meet in the middle at Denizen’s Brewing Co. at the Station at Riverdale Park.

And on Sunday, Dec. 10, the Runners SoHy group will do a self-paced three-mile run that includes the new trolley trail extension starting at 9 a.m.

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