Peter Farquharson began working as an intern at Thacher Park in 2022, developing programs for park and school events. He often traveled to schools in Albany, New York to teach middle school students about the natural assets that the park had to offer — a park that was 23 miles or a 32-minute drive away.

For students from families without vehicles, the park may have felt out of reach. Not knowing if they would be interested, Farquharson encouraged students to take advantage of a transportation program that offered bus service from the city to the park. Then one day, Farquharson saw a student he recognized walking off the bus at the park.  It was a full circle moment for him.  

“Actually seeing people follow through — actually seeing children come back with their siblings or parents — feels gratifying and I am glad to be involved in a program that I can see myself that helps get people out to these spaces,” Farquharson said.

The history of the Albany Nature Bus

Since 2021, a growing list of state, county, municipal and non-profit organizations have supported a bus that city and county residents can use to reach parks and preserves throughout Albany County.

The Nature Bus, which was started by Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy of the Capital Region, recognized a need for greater access to outdoor opportunities for city of Albany and Albany County residents — a need that became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conservancy responded by addressing what they saw as a major barrier to access — transportation. It was evident that many urban residents were not able to reach green spaces across the Capital Region. In 2020, Sarah Walsh, a programming specialist at the conservancy, proposed a solution. With no existing model to follow at the time, the conservancy developed an idea that continues to make an impact. 

Partnering with organizations across Albany County, the conservancy began planning routes, park programming and everything in between. The bus runs on Saturdays during the summer, shuttling residents in the city and county to six parks and preserves throughout  the New York State Birding Trail network. These natural spaces feature waterfalls, fishing docks and around 50 miles of trail — approximately a quarter of which are designed for accessibility. In 2025, the Nature Bus will offer stops at all six of these sites over 20 weeks from May to October.

The Albany Nature Bus is just one of many transit programs that are looking to connect communities to the outdoors. In New York alone, there are at least two other free bus programs that take people to outdoor spaces — one in Erie County and one in Ulster County — that have been established following the success of the Nature Bus. Similar initiatives exist across the United States, from New Jersey to Washington State. The Albany Nature Bus is not state or federally funded so it relies on funding and support from the conservancy, its partners and other community organizations.  

The program has also caught the attention of senators and congressmen from other states. In 2023, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bill to fund similar opportunities for Americans in underserved communities across the country — the Trails to Transit Act. For the Albany Nature Bus, the bill could enable the program to expand, providing communities with additional transportation opportunities and greater accessibility.

Although there have been no updates since its introduction in 2023, advocates remain hopeful the bill will pass  making programs like the Albany Nature Bus more common across the country. New York State is home to one of the largest park systems in the United States, with over 360,000 acres dedicated to state parks alone.

Because the Nature Bus is a free program — riders do not have to scan or pay to board the bus — collecting ridership data can be a challenge. Nevertheless, bus driver estimates suggest that ridership has grown since the program began. The conservancy and its partners have raised public awareness of the program with flyers posted around the city, local outreach, social media marketing and press releases. As awareness and ridership have grown, the Nature Bus program’s support network has expanded to a cohort of 80 community partners. 

While the promotion of the Nature Bus has continued to grow over its first three years, Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan says the program aligns well with the types of recreational opportunities families in the city are looking for.  

“This is a great thing to do and an opportunity for something different,” she said. “People are always looking for family friendly activities for their kids, so this is a nice addition to that list of opportunities.”  

So, grab your binoculars, double knot your sneakers and meet me at the bus stop. Let’s take a ride on the Nature Bus!