A free travel app for commuters in Nottingham and Derby has been downloaded more than 5,000 times in the first six weeks since launch.

Ride, which brings together a host of integrated transport information and ticketing options in one handy place, has been jointly created by Nottingham and Derby city councils.

The app combines buses, trams, trains, walking, cycling and shared transport services, including car club, rental e-scooters and e-bikes. It can be downloaded from the Play Store for Android devices and App Store for iOS.

Latest figures show that 5,056 people have started using Ride to help them get around locally.

Users can:

  • Plan a journey, book and pay for all local transport options – people can use Ride to buy tickets for every operator in one convenient place without the need for multiple apps and accounts on their phone
  • Track a bus in real-time – see buses from all operators live moving around an interactive map
  • Personalise choices around walking distances, preferred modes of transport and regularly-used operators
  • See the range of car club vehicles, locations and make bookings in advance
  • See the location and battery levels of e-bikes and e-scooters before hiring (Nottingham only)

Ride can also map out journeys door-to-door across different providers making opting for sustainable travel options even easier, accessible and convenient – further supporting efforts in both cities to cut carbon emissions.

The app will evolve with new features, accessibility enhancements and more transport operators over time. Along with other public transport responsibilities, operation of Ride will transfer to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) from next week.

The £4m project was developed through a partnership between Nottingham and Derby city councils and funded by the Government’s Future Transport Zones (FTZ) programme. This provides grants specifically for trialling new and innovative transport technologies and mobility services.

FTZs are government-funded projects in the UK aimed at testing and trialling exciting new transport technologies, modes and services, with the goal of creating more efficient, sustainable, active and carbon-friendly transport systems. 

Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said:

I’ve been using Ride for a while now as I signed up for testing during the trial phase – I think it’s brilliant. I’ve recommended it to so many people who use public transport to get around our city.

Two of my friends – one a teacher and the other a social worker – say that it’s been transformative in terms of helping them select the correct route for their journey. They both love the live tracking feature which shows exactly where their bus is on a map in real-time.

I’m delighted, but not at all surprised, that Ride has raced to 5,000 downloads in under two months. The app makes it so easy because everything you need is together in one place. I’d urge anyone who’s not done so already to grab it from their app store now.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, said:

We’re thrilled to see so many people embracing Ride and this milestone confirms what we already knew – that Ride has the power to transform the way people travel around our cities.

It’s more than just an app; it’s the result of years of work to make travelling around Derby and Nottingham easier and more sustainable. Whether you’re commuting to work or meeting friends, Ride puts better, faster, and cleaner travel options right in your pocket.

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said:

Seeing how quickly people have embraced Ride in its first few weeks really shows how ready we all are for simpler, smarter ways to get around. Bringing transport choices together in one easy app is a big step forward for Nottingham and Derby — and a great example of what we can achieve when local authorities work together.

Ride is designed with people in mind. It cuts out the hassle, saves time and makes sustainable travel the straightforward choice. Whether you’re heading to work, going to college or just getting about day-to-day, having live updates and ticketing all in one place helps everyone travel with more confidence and flexibility.

As we push towards a greener, better-connected region, tools like Ride will be key to reducing congestion, lowering carbon emissions and supporting inclusive growth across our cities.

The early response has been really encouraging, and I’m excited to see how the app continues to grow and support communities across the East Midlands.

More information is available at the new Ride website.