EASY TRIP TO MOUNTAINS SHUTTLE VIA PARK TO BEACH IS A HIT.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

More than 200 passengers, many of them foreign tourists, have been boarding the new ParkLINK shuttle each weekend to visit points across the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Marie Graves of Simi Valley, an intern who has been working on the shuttle bus this summer, said ridership has been growing by word of mouth among summer travelers.

``I remember one day going over the hill by Pepperdine (University) with this family from Canada that had never seen the ocean. I got chills when I saw the expression on their face,'' said Graves, 20, who works as a transportation intern with the National Park Service. ``The kids were going `Look, look.' They felt we were so lucky to live here.''

Graves said tourists from Chile, Australia, New Zealand, France and elsewhere have taken advantage of the new service, which started this summer.

The ParkLINK shuttles run each weekend carrying hikers, bikers and beachgoers across the Santa Monica Mountains and along the coast from Malibu Lagoon to Zuma Beach.

Residents of the San Fernando, Conejo and Simi valleys can drive to shuttle stops at Malibu Creek State Park in the Calabasas area and Paramount Ranch and the Peter Strauss Ranch in the Agoura area. The shuttle runs in a loop throughout the day Saturdays and Sundays over Kanan Dume Road, Las Virgenes-Malibu Canyon Road, Mulholland Highway and Pacific Coast Highway.

It is sponsored by the National Park Service, the state parks department, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors.

Margie Steigerwald, outdoor recreation planner in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for the ParkLINK shuttle program, said there were nearly 500 riders over the three-day Fourth of July weekend, when the shuttle service started with free rides.

But the ridership dropped dramatically the second weekend when the shuttles started charging $1 for people over 12.

``It was 99 riders the second weekend, and 71 the third, but it has been climbing ever since,'' she said. ``For July, we averaged 88 per day, and for August we're at 102. The highest two-day weekend (after the Fourth of July opening) was Aug. 20 and 21 with 258.''

Charles Taylor, a spokesman for the National Park Service, said the ParkLINK shuttle will keep its introductory $1 fare through mid-March, and officials hope one day to extend connections to spots along the Ventura Freeway.

``It's a great service that the public seems to really value,'' said Taylor. ``It has taken a while for the service to catch on. But with over 2,000 riders under our belt, we are very confident that we have gotten all the kinks out.''

Along the route, the buses stop at Malibu Creek State Park, Tapia Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Solstice Canyon, Zuma Beach, Peter Strauss Ranch, Paramount Ranch and two Backbone trailheads (Kanan Road and Malibu Canyon Road).

Bob Kaplan of Thousand Oaks said he left a car near the ridge of the mountains and hiked down to Zuma Beach, where he caught the shuttle back up.

``It was great. I can't understand why more people don't use it. You don't have to use your car,'' Kaplan said. ``There were a billion cars at the beach, but with the shuttle it was real easy.''

Michael Berger of Thousand Oaks said he has ridden the shuttle a few times this summer and found it surprisingly relaxing.

``I go through areas I've driven through and see things I've never noticed. I have a new appreciation. I can actually concentrate on what's going on around me, instead of concentrating on the driving.''

Frank Swiadek of Lancaster said he has been hiking and driving through the Santa Monica Mountains for decades, but he also found something new by riding the shuttle to Solstice Canyon where he and his wife Gina hiked up to a waterfall.

``It's a very nice service - to be able to get to all those places so easily. It's a much better deal than having to drive all around the Santa Monica Mountains yourself. You certainly save yourself some gas.

``The shuttles themselves are very nice, the air conditioning is good, the seats are comfortable, the drivers friendly. It's just an ideal way to get around in the Santa Monica Mountains. A lot of people don't realize what's there.''

The ParkLINK has been running from about 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to take advantage of the summer's additional daylight, but normal hours of operation from October through March will be about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

TO CATCH THE SHUTTLE

--Via bus, take Metro bus 434 from downtown L.A. or Santa Monica to shared stops in Malibu (Crosscreek) or along the Pacific Coast Highway. Transfer to the ParkLINK shuttle. Metro Day Passes will be honored.

--Via car, park at any of the parking lots along the route. Free parking is available at all National Park Service sites. California State Parks give a $2 discount off the regular $8 parking fee to shuttle users at Malibu Creek and Tapia. For more information visit www.parklinkshuttle.org or call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color in Simi edition only) Louisa Chan, left, and Marie Graves have helped get the word out on the ParkLINK shuttle bus service that ferries visitors around the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

Box:

(ran in Valley edition only) TO CATCH THE SHUTTLE (see text)