Father and Son Bond on the Bus

Whether the conversation is about trends in the business sector or the last St. Louis Cardinals game, Gary Dvorak and his son Josh look forward to riding the bus together to and from work.

“We talk about baseball a lot,” Josh said, smiling as he stepped onboard the bus on a sunny summer afternoon.

At least three mornings a week, Gary and Josh board Express Route 96 – EP True from separate stops near their homes in West Des Moines. They ride the entire stretch of I-235 together before getting off the bus along Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines and going separate ways to their offices.

Gary, who works at Principal, started riding DART in 2009 when his eldest son needed to use one of the family’s two cars. Rather than buying a third vehicle, Gary realized riding a DART bus from West Des Moines to downtown Des Moines each day was more feasible. Fifteen years later, his routine is mostly the same.

“I’m kind of a workaholic,” said Gary. “So, one aspect I like about the bus is you only have so many times for the bus to take you home. It forces me to shut down my work and go home. It’s really helped my work-life balance.”

More recently, Josh took a job at an insurance company in downtown Des Moines after graduating college. Knowing that his dad preferred riding the bus, he decided to give it a try. The bonus: Riding the bus meant spending quality time with his dad—something that became more challenging after Josh moved out of his parents’ house.

“There’s not a lot of people that can say they get to talk to their parents every day,” said Josh.

Making a Choice to Ride DART 

Although both own cars, Gary and Josh say they enjoy riding the bus because it saves them money on gas and car maintenance. It makes their commute less stressful, especially in the winter months when roads are icy or snowy. Josh said, “it’s just a good way to start the workday and a good way to decompress afterwards.”

Gary says he’s also enjoyed meeting other DART riders, including those who rely on the bus because they have no other transportation options. 

“We think it’s absolutely necessary for others who need the bus to have the same benefits we’ve been able to enjoy,” said Gary. 

What’s your DART story? Share it with us using this form.