NISKAYUNA — When walking or biking the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, don’t be alarmed to see a person in a bright orange vest.

These are the state’s first Canalway Trail ambassadors, 11 volunteers who have agreed to lend their time to help people along a stretch of the trail in Niskayuna.

“They just keep their eye open for any problems on the trail — whether it’s somebody with a flat tire or somebody who doesn’t know how to find a bathroom,” said Gillian Scott, president of the Friends of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail.

The project is a partnership with the Canalway Trails Association New York, Park and Trails New York, the town of Niskayuna and the New York State Canal Corporation. L.L. Bean donated money for the vests.

Scott said this initiative is something that the group has been talking about for a long time and it agreed to launch a pilot program in the 10-mile stretch of trail in Niskayuna, which runs from the Colonie town line to the Schenectady city line.

“It’s kind of a feel-good program. It’s to help people to make the most of the trail and encourage them to use the trail more,” he said.

The group does not have any formal schedule, Scott said. Volunteers will be going out during times when they normally use the trail.

Scott said the group would love to expand the program to other sections of the trail if it is successful. They would have to obtain some funding to buy more vests, which are bright orange with yellow stripes and say “trail ambassador” on the back.

She said she hopes that this project will enlighten more people about using the trail. The more people use the trail, the more elected officials will hear about it from their constituents and make it a priority, she said.

The group held a kickoff on Aug. 2 at the old railroad station at Lions Park in Niskayuna, where the volunteers were presented with their vests.

They were going to launch the first patrol, but the inclement weather kept them from doing that.

Wally Elton, project director for Parks and Trails New York — a nonprofit organization — said this project is a great way to keep tabs on the trail.

“We thought for some time it would be desirable to have knowledgeable people out there on the trail that can answer questions from trail users, give directions, monitor the condition of the trail if any maintenance issues need attention, lend a hand if they have any mechanical problem with their bike,” he said.

The Niskayuna section of the trail was selected because it is the most complete and a local group was willing to take on the task.

The plan eventually is for the trail to run from Buffalo to Albany. A total of 260 miles are in place. The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail represents about 40 miles.

“A lot of people locally don’t realize it’s part of the bigger picture,” she said.

Niskayuna Supervisor Joe Landry said he is pleased that the town is the first one in the state to participate in this program. The ambassadors will serve as the town’s “eyes and ears” to alert them to any problems or maintenance issues.

“We’re looking at this as something that’s a win-win for both the users of the trail and the town,” Landry said.