Summerfest veterans and true Milwaukeeans will tell you that there is no good reason to drive your car to the Big Gig.

If you can actually find suitable parking in the Downtown or Third Ward areas, you'll pay through the nose. On top of that, the evening traffic and the extra presence of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's and Milwaukee Police Departments, why risk the chance of spoiling a great day on the lake with a ticket ... or much, much worse?

Once again, there are plenty of options for those who want to leave their keys at home. As usual, the Milwaukee County Transit System will run its special Summerfest Flyer routes from 11 area Park-and-Ride Lots. The Flyers run from the lots every half-hour during the week, and every 15 minutes on weekends. MCTS is also teaming up with several Downtown parking lots to provide shuttle service from Downtown Milwaukee to the North Gate. This is a great option if you plan on hitting some of the city's hotspots after a solid day of festing.

For those looking for a little more fun in their evening, a number of local bars are again teaming up to provide their patrons with transportation to and from the Henry Maier Festival Park.

The East Side Shuttle makes stops all along the North and Prospect neighborhood; Hooligan's, Live, BBC, Yield, Vitucci's, Cans, Judge's Irish Pub, and Twisted Fork are among the stops on the East Side. The Shuttle then heads down Brady Street, making pick-ups at Club Brady, Hi-Hat and The Nomad before arriving at the South Gate. The shuttle runs daily during Summerfest with return trips available.

South Siders can catch a bus from Spirits in South Milwaukee, Vnuk's Lounge in Cudahy, and King Pins in St. Francis. Most of these buses are free of charge to customers; usually you get a ticket when you purchase a drink inside the bar.

The ride to the park can be pretty tame and low-key, but on any of these routes, expect a pretty raucous ride home. Singing, chanting, and general drunkenness are pretty much the order of the day. Imagine your old grade school field trips, but everybody -- including the teachers -- are in the bag. It's a party atmosphere for people who are just getting their night started.

Suburbanites also have shuttle service options again this year:

Wisconsin Coach Lines/Coach USA will offer service from Waukesha County. Trips begin at the Delafield Park & Ride at 10:55 every morning with half-hour service throughout the day. Stops are made in Pewaukee and Goerke's Corners before arriving at Summerfest, with return trips leaving the Mid Gate every half-hour starting at 3:30. Round-trip fare for adults is $9. Round-trip fare for kids 12 and under is $4 until 3 p.m.

Ozaukee County Expresses busses will run from the Park-and-Ride Lot at I-43 and Hwy. 32 in Port Washington, and will also stop in Cedarburg and Grafton on the way to the Mid Gate. The service departs every half-hour during the week and every 15 minutes on the weekends.

If you're joining our party from Racine, Kenosha, or -- gasp! -- Chicago, try hopping on Amtrak's Hiawatha Service. Pick up a Downtown Shuttle right outside the Milwaukee Station. Amtrak will run special trains departing Downtown Milwaukee each weekend of Summerfest; and runs seven trains daily between Milwaukee and Chicago with stops in Sturtevant and Glenview, Ill.