SHUTTLING YOUR WAY AROUND

A special shuttle bus system will take the hassle out of parking for Riverfest.

Peter Robben, Riverfest transportation chairman, said shuttle buses will run throughout Riverfest. During peak times this weekend as many as five shuttles will run continuously from the two shuttle sites to downtown Cape Girardeau.

Riverfest, this year built around the theme "Jammin' on the River," will be held Friday and Saturday.

Parking in the downtown area is limited during Riverfest, Robben said in urging people to take advantage of the free shuttle service. Shuttles will take Riverfest-goers from convenient off-site parking areas at West Park Mall and the Show Me Center to the heart of Riverfest activities.

Shuttles will begin operation from both the Show Me Center and West Park Mall at 4 p.m. Friday, continuing until 12:15 a.m. Saturday. The shuttle service will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday and end at 11:45 p.m.

West Park shuttles will pick up passengers in the mall's main parking lot and drop them off at Themis and Lorimier near Common Pleas Courthouse and Riverfest's Civil War and Mountain Men encampment areas, or at Independence and Main. West Park shuttles will operate at approximately 30-minute intervals, Robben said.

Show Me Center shuttles will operate at 15-minute intervals and will pick up passengers in front of the Show Me Center. Riverfest drop-off points are at Themis and Lorimier and Broadway and Main.

Representatives of the Cape Girardeau Paddlewheelers will be on hand at both the Show Me Center and West Park Mall to answer questions about Cape Girardeau and Riverfest, and to pass out schedules of Riverfest activities.

Departing Riverfest-goers can catch a return shuttle to the Show Me Center at Broadway and Main and to West Park Mall at Independence and Main.

The Downtown Merchants Association is sponsoring this year's shuttle service.

Handicapped parking will be available downtown between Spanish and Main streets, police said.

No vehicles will be allowed to park on downtown streets after 8 a.m. Friday. Cars parked in restricted areas will be towed at the owner's expense, police said.