Frequently asked questions - General

Nottsbus On Demand is a new flexible way to travel by bus. Unlike a traditional bus service, Nottsbus On Demand doesn’t have a fixed route or follow a timetable. Instead, our buses can travel anywhere between bus stops and designated points within the operating zones, where there is not already a scheduled bus service running. With Nottsbus On Demand you can choose the time you would like to travel by booking your journey through our easy-to-use Nottsbus On Demand app which is free to download from the Apple and Google Play stores, or over the phone by calling 0115 804 0404. (Please note this phone line is only available between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm Friday, excluding bank holidays).

When you’re ready to travel simply book the bus to pick you up from a bus stop or designated point within the operating zone that is convenient for you. Our smart technology will match your journey with other customers travelling in the same direction so you can be picked up along the way.

You can book journeys ‘on demand’ as required, or make an advance booking if you are travelling the next day. If you are making an on demand booking we estimate that it could take anywhere between five and 60 minutes for the bus to reach your bus stop or designated pick-up point, so please take this into consideration.

Nottsbus On Demand was initially launched as a pilot in the villages around Retford, Ollerton and Newark and in the evening in Mansfield. A new zone in West Rushcliffe was then launched in spring 2023.

Following successful trials in these areas, the service has now been rolled out to South Newark. The new South Newark Zone has replaced the 91, 856 and the 857 bus services, offering residents better transport links, which will allow them to make journeys more frequently and to new destinations. 

Please see the service zone maps for further details.

As long as you are travelling within the zone boundary you can request to be picked up and dropped off at any of our bus stops or designated points. However, if there is an alternative local bus service that will get you to your destination, the Nottsbus On Demand app will direct you to that option instead.

The service in the North and South Ollerton Zones (Z1 and Z2) operates Monday to Saturday, between 7am and 7pm (excluding bank holidays).

The service in the Mansfield Evening Zone (Z3) operates Thursday to Saturday, between 7.30pm and midnight.

The service in the West Rushcliffe Zone (Z4) operates daily, between 7am and midnight.

The service in the South Newark Zone (Z5) operates Monday to Saturday, between 9.30am and 2.30pm (excluding bank holidays).

No, Nottsbus On Demand is unable to operate like a taxi and pick you up or drop you off at your home. Instead, our clever app will identify the bus stops or designated pick-up points that are closest to your location and destination.

If you find that there is no bus stop or designated pick-up point in your area, please contact us to let us know. You can do this by emailing nottsbusondemand@nottscc.gov.uk or by phone on 0115 804 0404. Please note this phone line is only available between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm Friday, excluding bank holidays.

Yes, you can book a journey in advance if you are travelling the next day, either through the app or over the phone. If you want to pre-book for travel on a Monday and do not have access to the app you will need to call us on 0115 804 0404 before 4:30pm on the Friday before you wish to travel.

If you need to reach your destination by a specific time, we recommend you select an earlier arrival time when booking your journey to take any delays and busy periods into account. If the app states that all seats on the bus are full, please search for an earlier or later time.

When booking a journey in advance you will be given a 30 minute estimated timeslot. If booking thought the app, you will receive confirmation of this timeslot directly from the app. If you book by phone, one of our advisers will confirm the booking timeslot and, if you have given us a mobile number or email address you will also be sent additional confirmation.

On the day of your journey you'll be notified either directly from the app, by text message or by email with the details of your pick-up time and location. This will usually be between 30 and 60 minutes before your journey. Then when its time, make your way to your pick up point and wait for one of our friendly drivers to take you to your destination.

If you no longer need to make a journey that you have booked, please cancel it as soon as possible in the Nottsbus On Demand app as this will free up a seat for someone else. Cancellations should be made at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

If you can't use the app you can cancel your journey by calling us on 0115 804 0404. Please note this phone line is only available Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), between 9am and 2pm.

No. If you have already boarded the bus and started your journey with Nottsbus On Demand you won’t be able to change your destination.

If you want to change your destination you will need to cancel your journey in the Nottsbus On Demand app before you travel and book a new journey to your chosen destination.

No. If you have already booked your journey with Nottsbus On Demand you won’t be able to add additional passengers.

If you want to change the number of passengers  travelling you will need to cancel your journey in the Nottsbus On Demand app before you travel and book a new journey to include all additional passengers.

Re-book your journey in the Nottsbus On Demand app, then send us an email at nottsbusondemand@nottscc.gov.uk, telling us what happened so we can look into things for you. If there was a fault or issue with our service, we will add a credit to your account that can be used for any ticket type for a future booking.

Yes, our Nottsbus On Demand buses are fully accessible with low floor access, making it easier to board for those who have mobility issues, or are boarding with a wheelchair, or pushchair. An access ramp is also available at the entrance to the bus and our friendly drivers will be happy to assist you with this if required.

Nottsbus On Demand buses have a priority seating area for the elderly, those with a disability, and those who are less able to stand.

Nottsbus On Demand buses are wheelchair accessible and have a dedicated wheelchair space.  When registering for the Nottsbus On Demand app please indicate that you require a wheelchair space by tapping the wheelchair toggle in the ‘Special settings ’ section in your user profile. If you are booking your journey over the phone, please tell our customer services representative that you require a wheelchair space.

Yes, you can take a pushchair on the bus, but you may need to fold it if the bus is busy as we need to keep the aisle of the bus clear for safety reasons.

Unfortunately we cannot accommodate non-folding bicycles or E-scooters. 

For the North Ollerton and South Newark On Demand Zones please email Nottinghamshire County Council Fleet services at fleet.ops@nottscc.gov.uk, or call 0115 804 4699, providing a description of the missing item (phone line available Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4pm Monday to Friday).

For South Ollerton & Mansfield On Demand Zones please use the Stagecoach lost property form: Lost property form | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com), or call 0345 241 8000.

For West Rushcliffe Zone please contact Kinchbus by calling 01509 815637 (phone line available Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm).

If you had a great experience with a driver, please let us know by filling out the feedback screen in the Nottsbus On Demand app after your journey. 

We are carrying out an initial pilot of our Nottsbus On Demand service in the villages around west Rushcliffe, Ollerton, Retford, Newark & Bingham, providing an invaluable route to travel in areas that are not currently served by our bus network. We will be regularly reviewing the pilot to help us determine if the service can be rolled out more widely across the county.  An evening service is also being trialled in some areas of Mansfield.

Nottsbus On Demand services do run on bank holidays in the West Rushcliffe Zone. However, services in the North Ollerton, South Ollerton and Mansfield Evening Zones do not run on bank holidays.

All Nottsbus On Demand services do not run Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Yes. SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway (SLPEMG) is in the West Rushcliffe Zone. For journeys to and from the logistics park, search for 'East Midlands Gateway' in the Nottsbus On Demand and select the ‘bus interchange’ stop.