Swimming in Cascadilla and Fall Creek gorges is dangerous -- and illegal. In an effort to encourage students to swim in safe locations, Cornell is offering a new, free shuttle bus to Robert H. Treman State Park during Welcome Weekend, Aug. 24-26, and Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

"The weather is still quite warm, and we want people to enjoy the gorges and other natural areas -- but we want them to be informed and to enjoy them safely," said Peggy Beach, Cornell senior director of internal communications.

Shuttles will depart from North and West Campus, Aug. 24-26 and Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m., 1, 2:45 and 4:30 p.m. each day and return to campus at 2:15, 4, 5:45 and 7 p.m. The shuttle is free to students but departure and return tickets are required. Tickets are available at the Willard Straight Hall Resource Center (lobby), daily, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

The shuttle bus and gorge stewards, who have been educating visitors about the gorges since July, are part of a multipronged approach to enhance the safe and responsible use of Cornell's gorges and natural areas. In addition to completing safety enhancements to trails and installing new signs, a gorge safety video has been created that will be shown to new students and is posted on the web.