Published on: December 1, 2024
A self-described computer and electronics guru, Des Moines resident Wes Majerus works in Information Technology (IT) for the State of Iowa. In his role, Wes manages databases and other systems while also helping his coworkers and other state employees with their technology needs.
“I was the kid that liked to take stuff apart and hopefully get it back together,” he said. “I’ve always been curious about how stuff works and how things function.”
Outside of work, Wes enjoys going to Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines to watch a movie and shop or meeting friends for a meal at one of the many local restaurants on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines.
“I like being with other people,” Wes said. “I like being a part of things in the community that I can take the bus to if I can’t walk there.”
Moving to central Iowa for public transit
As a blind person, Wes says DART is vital for him to reach all of these places and others that allow him to fully live his life.
“The bus is like my road,” he said. “It uses the roads, but it’s also my road to get places without having to depend on anybody.”
DART Routes 3, 7, 15, 16, 52 and 60 all get Wes where he needs to go. He especially relies on them when the weather makes walking long distances difficult.
Access to public transit is one of the primary reasons Wes and his wife moved to central Iowa from Nebraska in 2020. Simple activities like getting a haircut or buying a new pair of shoes were nearly impossible if his wife couldn’t drive him.
“We lived in a very small town right after we got married, but it was very burdensome that there was no mass transit,” he said. “I literally had to depend on [my wife] for everything. I didn’t go out and do stuff by myself because I couldn’t.”
Wes says he appreciates the reliability of DART, acknowledging that while the buses “won’t get to every little nook and cranny, where they do go, they go well.” He also says having consistent schedules makes DART more dependable than private transportation or other rideshare services.
Helping riders with disabilities travel
Wes’s experience is just one example of how DART supports riders with disabilities as they travel throughout Greater Des Moines.
Learn more:
- This blog highlights ways DART aims to be accessible for people with disabilities.
- Reimagine DART will offer new opportunities to connect central Iowans to communities across the region.
- Share your story with DART by filling out this form.
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