Bus traveling on the asphalt road in rural landscape at sunsetSeattle’s popular Trailhead Direct service, which shuttles people from the city and its suburbs to popular trailheads, resumed running in June after a COVID-19 hiatus. More cities are following suit, offering public transit service to trailheads, parks, and areas of nature away from the so-called concrete jungle.

“Trailhead Direct represents what outdoor recreation groups and transit planners alike believe will be increasingly necessary in years to come: an alternative to driving for people who want to spend some time in nature,” writes news site Yes!

Other cities are already using transit to get people to trails, and a new bill in Congress would offer significant funds to launch similar services around the U.S.

Read the whole story, including case studies of places where it’s working, here.