Take the bus leave the driving to us

Some families are already on winter holiday and others traveling to destinations today. Some go by air, automobile or Amtrak, but Greyhound is another way people still travel the country. Greyhound’s Kim Plaskett says it can be hard to predict how many will take the bus. Most travelers buy their tickets less than 2 hours before they department, but last year Greyhound carried more than 6600 people in and out of the state. That’s the total of tickets sold at the biggest five stops in Iowa, including the Davenport Greyhound depot, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Dubuque. In all there are 17 locations, from major terminals to convenience stores and “mom-and-pop shops” where the owners also sell tickets and let the buses stop by to pick up and drop off riders. Plaskett says it’s hard to say who’s a typical passenger on the bus. She says the customers vary, with students, soldiers, retirees on vacation, families, and even some folks who take business trips by bus. Plaskett says the bus is still a viable option because it’s safe, economical and saves the strain of driving yourself.