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Nonprofit transportation service Parkbus is offering Vancouverites free shuttle trips to and from Golden Ears Provincial Park this summer.

The express bus rides will take place every Saturday and Sunday from July 7 to September 3, with departures at MEC’s Vancouver location (130 West Broadway). The shuttles will leave in the morning and return in the late afternoon.

Those interested in taking advantage of the service may reserve a seat on Parkbus’s website beginning mid-June. A credit card is required to prevent no-shows.

As part of Parkbus’s commitment to responsible outdoor recreation, visitors will learn about proper hiking and camping practices on board the bus. Pre-departure safety details and information about Golden Ears, a 62,540-hectar park situated about an hour’s drive from downtown Vancouver, will also be provided to guests by e-mail.

Founded in Toronto in 2010 and launched in B.C. last year, Parkbus operates express bus rides from city centres to provincial parks around Canada. Last summer, the company included Golden Ears in its list of ticketed destinations, though service to this attraction has been made free this year thanks to support from MEC and TD Canada Trust.

Operated in B.C. by Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable transportation options, Parkbus also offers paid round-trip bus service to Shannon Falls, Stawamus Chief, Alice Lake, Garibaldi, Joffre Lakes, and Cypress Provincial Parks.