A ride on Rapid City's City View Trolley is an excursion in itself.

With informative history and interesting facts delivered by the trolley's automated tour, some riders found no need to exit at popular stops such as Storybook Island and Dinosaur Park when riding last Tuesday.

Carol Bortnek of Avon was content to just take a leisurely ride with her daughter Gloria Petersen and granddaughter Katlynn of Rapid City on Gloria's birthday.

"We're just doing the round trip," Bortnek said. "But it's been very interesting, especially the parts about the flour mill and the history of Main Street."

Katlynn echoed her grandmother's sentiments. Although she already knew the history of Dakota Middle School (where she attends), she was excited to learn that the restored fountain in downtown used to be in the middle of the street.

"It's cool," she said. "I would definitely ride again."

Caleigh Franz Meier, 15, of Dallas was in town with her sister Kjerstyl, 8, and mother Teri. Caleigh also was intrigued by the history lesson on the trolley.

"It's fun," she said. "I like hearing all the facts they have to say."

Teri Franz Meier agreed and appreciated the tour as an out-of-town visitor. She was especially interested in the portions about the 1972 flood.

"It gives you a lot of good info, especially for people who aren't from here," Franz Meier said.

Other visitors were just happy to be carted around cheaply. Robin Brandeberry of Kansas City, Mo., saw the $1 ride as fun way to get her three children, 9-year-old Kenton, 7-year-old Jarret and 4-year-old Lila, to the Cleghorn Springs Fish Hatchery. Since she didn't know the area, it was a welcome alternative to driving herself.

"It's an easy mode of transport to multiple places," Brandeberry said.

Driver Gina Van Wyk said it's common for people to take the trolley solely as an alternative to driving.

"A lot of local people, if they have visitors and their vehicle isn't big enough to tour around town, can ride together on the trolley," Van Wyk said.

Although the trolley is just over a year old

- service started last July - there have been some significant changes this summer.

Rapid Transit manager Rich Sagen said a trolley committee met at the end of last season. In addition to expanding the route and narration tour, the group decided to eliminate the separate evening tour.

"We made the determination that the evening shuttle service we provided just really didn't generate the interest we thought it would," Sagen said.

Overall, however, use statistics are up from last year. In 2007, Sagen said the trolley averaged 79 passengers a day. This summer, they are seeing 120.

The trolley also is being used to take people to and from Summer Nights on Seventh in downtown Rapid City every Thursday. Sagen said the popularity of the free shuttle has increased every week.

"It started out slow the first couple of weeks," Sagen said. But lately, it has risen to about 160 passengers per night.

"That exceeded the expectations of individuals who put it together," he said.

Contact Serri Graslie at 394-8401 or serri.graslie@rapidcityjournal.com.