Now that the new Sycamore bus line is fully functional, the only thing needed are the passengers.

The new service, which started in November, hopes to increase transportation availability within Sycamore.

City manager Bill Nicklas said some residents with disabilities or without cars had to resort to walking.

Sycamore’s older bus line was removed in the ’90s due to lack of participation.

Nicklas hopes the blue line will not have the same problem.

The city of Sycamore has been working with the State of Illinois to provide funding for the bus line. Private donors have also provided support.

“[The city] worked long to get funds,” Nicklas said.

A certain level of ridership is still needed to fund the bus line.

A one-way bus ride costs 50 cents, but Nicklas said that does not go far with today’s gas prices.

“Some contributions offset the greater part of the cost,” Nicklas said. “Public support will have to increase.”

Nicklas and others are working to get the word out about the bus schedule.

With all of the help from the state government, Nicklas said he does not want to give up that support lightly.

If ridership does not grow, Nicklas said there is a chance that they will shorten the bus route or abandon the service entirely.

The blue line was created in part by the Voluntary Action Center (VAC), which also helped with DeKalb’s green line.

Some bus stops include Kishwaukee Community Hospital, businesses and shopping areas. The blue line also connects to the green line that runs through DeKalb.