Do you want to hop on a bus and explore central Rushcliffe at your own pace? Or maybe you fancy a night out in Newark or Mansfield without the hassle of driving or parking?
As of Monday 22nd July, Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) has introduced several new Nottsbus on Demand services across the county. This includes a brand-new Central Rushcliffe Zone, a Newark evening service and an expansion to the Mansfield service.
The new Central Rushcliffe service will run Monday to Saturday from 7am until 7pm and replaces the 850, 852, 853 and 863 bus services. It will operate in communities including Colston Bassett, Hickling, Hickling Pastures, Kinoulton, Upper Broughton, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, Costock, Bunny, Bradmore, Ruddington, Keyworth and Tollerton.
Passengers will also be able to travel to selected points in East Leake, Keyworth and Cotgrave, as well as Gamston Morrisons, to connect to other bus services.
Nottsbus On Demand doesn’t have a fixed route or follow a timetable. Passengers can travel anywhere between bus stops and designated points anywhere in the operating zone where there’s not already a scheduled bus service running.
An easy-to-use, free app puts booking a journey at passenger’s fingertips, but there’s also a dedicated phone line.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at NCC, said: “We’re delighted to offer more flexible and convenient travel options for our residents and visitors with the launch of these new Nottsbus on Demand services.
“Whether residents need to access the shops and amenities in the villages of Central Rushcliffe, enjoy a night out in Newark or Mansfield, they can now book a bus ride that suits their schedule and destination.
“Residents no longer have to worry about timetables, routes or parking as they can just use the Nottsbus on Demand App, or phone up to select a pick-up and drop-off point in the zone and we’ll do the rest.
“Our Nottsbus on Demand services are part of our commitment to provide accessible, affordable and sustainable transport and we will continue to invest in these services, so that more people can benefit from this convenient and flexible way of travelling around the county.”
“We’ve gained valuable experience from our previous pilot zones and it’s exciting to see further expansion of the scheme providing a bus service for our rural communities.”
You can find more information about Nottsbus On Demand, including zone maps and operating hours, on the NCC website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/travel-notts/travelling-by-bus/nottsbusondemand/nottsbus-on-demand-zones.