The Bustang will begin taking Denver passengers to Estes Park later this month, encouraging them to stop at nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, a free trolley ride away.

Starting Aug. 24, it will travel twice on Saturdays and Sundays between Denver’s Union Station and the Estes Park Visitor Center, according to a Thursday press release from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The route will be offered every weekend until Sept. 29, according to a release.

“We’re thrilled that people can now leave their cars behind and hop a bus to Estes Park, and even connect to Rocky Mountain National Park,” said Estes Park Mayor Todd Jirsa. “This pilot program is fulfilling a long-term need, making travel more convenient and helping reduce traffic during a very busy time of year.”

Bustang, a service of the Colorado Department of Transportation, recently celebrated its fourth year of operations, noting continuous growth in ridership since the project’s launch.

Bustang’s North, South and West Lines provided 238,252 trips between July 2018 and June 2019, up 133% from the 102,503 trips Bustang provided in its first year of service, according to a release.

An important function of Bustang is to enhance transit safety and reduce the number and severity of car accidents around the state, according to CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

“We decided to pilot this program as part of our continuing effort to provide service to high demand recreational areas that have unmet transit needs,” Lew said. “Providing travel alternatives to a popular tourist area helps us to enhance safety by reducing the number of vehicles coming in and out of the Estes Park area.”

Schedule and ticket information can be found on Bustang’s website.