If ridership does not increase, the state may cut funding to the service by an estimated $11,000 in 2012.

Pine River's bus system is funded by federal, state and local dollars.

There has been a public bus in Pine River for more than 30 years. Longtime bus driver Curt Peterson has been driving the bus for 12 years.

Currently 50 percent of the bus service's operating costs come from state funding, 35 percent in federal funding and 15 percent local.

Fares help offset the city's expense to keep the bus operating.

The state is looking at all of the transit systems in Minnesota and providing the greatest funding based on performance.

While Pine River bus ridership has been pretty constant at around 621 riders a month, according to Transit Manager Val Kuschel, the service could really use an increase to their numbers to 1,000 riders a month.

"The service is great for so many people; it'd be a shame to lose it," Kuschel said, noting that once the public service is gone; it's gone.

Pine River is one of nine Minnesota cities with a population under 10,000 that has its own public transport system, according to the Mn/DOT Office of Transit. Others include Benson, Dawson, Fosston, Granite Falls, Le Sueur, Montevideo, Morris and Stewartville.

And, Cass County is one of a few counties in the state without a countywide bus service provided.

Pine River's public dial-a-ride service allows passengers to be picked up in a short time after they call for a ride and be transported curb to curb.

The bus operates Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Pine River, and up to 3 miles outside of the city limits.

Riders can pay cash or check to ride the bus, which is handicapped accessible.

Riders can arrange to be picked up by calling city hall at 587-2440.

With gas prices around $3.70, the bus is an inexpensive mode of transportation for riders in the community.

Any age riders are welcome on the bus. Daycares may utilize the bus to ride to and from the library or the Pine River-Backus Family Center, for example.

Some riders like the convenience of being picked up and dropped off for appointments at the clinic, pharmacy and eye doctor in town.

On Tuesdays, Jerry's SuperValu pays the fare for riders who are traveling to the SuperValu to shop.

Because Pine River has dial-a-ride rather than a fixed-route bus system, passengers can be picked up with little waiting.

If the ridership numbers increase, Pine River will be eligible for more state revenue to sustain their service.

"We want a lot of people to ride the bus," Kuschel said.