January 10, 2023
As we look toward Nature Bus 2023, we want to hear from you!
ALBANY, NY (January 10, 2023) The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC), the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and local project partners offered a second year of free bus service to connect communities in the City of Albany to natural areas in Albany County. The complimentary service ran every Saturday from May 28, 2022, through September 24, 2022.
On the heels of a successful pilot season in 2021, Nature Bus partners are pleased to announce a 30% increase in ridership in 2022. More than 1,200 residents utilized the free service over its 18-week run to access and enjoy nature at nine different outdoor locations. Project partners increased programming in 2022 with scavenger hunts, guided nature walks, and other educational offerings. Nature Bus also gave riders access to the larger community events of the year including Five Rivers Annual Festival and Thacher Park’s Hawk Watch.
As the group looks towards Nature Bus 2023, we want to hear from you! In partnership with CDTA, the Nature Bus project partners are launching a quick survey to gauge feedback on the service and how it might be improved in future years to better meet community needs. The survey is open to all City of Albany residents including those who did not utilize the Nature Bus in 2022.
You can access this short survey by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NatureBus-2022. The survey will remain open through Feb. 28, 2023.
To learn more, visit MHLC’s Nature Bus website: https://mohawkhudson.org/nature-bus/. The 2022 Nature Bus partners locations included:
- Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, Slingerlands
- Albany Pine Bush Six Mile Waterworks, Fuller Road
- Tivoli Lake Preserve, Livingston Ave
- DEC’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar
- Hilton Barn Park & Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, Voorheesville
- John Boyd Thacher State Park, Voorheesville
- Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Bender Melon Farm Preserve, New Scotland
- Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Norman’s Kill West Preserve, Delmar
Funding for this project was provided from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Environmental Justice. Nature Bus 2022 would not be possible without the generous support from the Friends of Thacher State Park, the Natural Heritage Trust, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Adirondack Mountain Club, Albany Chapter, and private donors.