Accessible buses

Easy on, easy off

Nottingham City Council believes that public transport should be accessible to all.
Nottingham City Council together with the bus and tram operators have implemented a range of measures to meet the specific needs of passengers with disabilities.

This page will help you make the best use of local buses. It will tell you which routes have accessible buses, explain how they differ, and give you useful contacts to make your journey easier.

Making life easier

The City Council has an ongoing program of improving local bus stops to make life easier for people with disabilities. To date over 600 stops now have shelters with lighting which improves both the comfort and safety of waiting for a bus. Around half of all stops have raised kerbs meaning that there is no step for passengers boarding the bus. All City Centre stops have a tactile button in the bottom right hand corner of the timetable case to enable blind and partially sighted customers to easily locate the correct bus stop for their journey. For a key to the bus stop codes click Tactile Buttons to find out more.

Both Nottingham City Transport and trent barton have invested heavily in new easy access buses. These buses have low floors that are level with raised kerbs to enable easy access when the ramps on the bus are lowered. Where raised kerbs have not been installed or buses cannot reach the kerb for whatever reason these buses can 'kneel', dropping the front down to nearer the height of a standard kerb.

All of Nottingham's buses will be low floor by 2010, three years ahead of the national target. Nearly 80% of NCT buses, and all trent barton buses are already low floor. Audio announcements are also available on some services and more are on the way this year.

Most of these buses are also fitted with dedicated, purpose built wheelchair bays that allow wheelchair users to travel in safety. The bay position varies according to the type of bus, but it faces to the rear, with handrails and a vertical protection board behind the chair. There will be enough space to manoeuvre yourself in. You will need to put your brakes on, although the movement of the bus is very stable.

Most wheelchair users can travel on an accessible bus. The bus companies just ask that your wheelchair is well maintained with correctly inflated tyres and it should not be too overloaded with bags! When you use the ramp you will need to adjust your kerb climbers.

Unfortunately some heavier wheelchairs and pavement scooters cannot be taken on the bus.

Dial-a-Ride

If you are unable to use conventional bus services, Dial-a-Ride is a door to door service provided by Nottingham Community Transport.

You can register for Dial-a-Ride if you live within four miles of the City Centre and you are temporarily or permanently disabled. Membership costs £5 and a current fare chart is given to you when you register. A 50% discount on these fares is given if you have a current concessionary bus pass. If you have a helper, they can travel free.

Dial-a-Ride will take you anywhere within 10 miles of the City Centre, including East Midlands Airport. There is a service 7 days a week from 8.30am to 11.30pm, excluding Bank Holidays.  Call (0115) 969 1801 for more information.

Please Note: Journeys normally provided by Social Services, Education or the Ambulance Service cannot be made on City Dial-a-Ride. The City Council wants you to use the bus services around Nottingham.

If you have a disability and you live in the City of Nottingham, you may be able to get a pass which will give you free travel on all local buses in England. The Mobility Citycard can offer more than free travel, it offers access to Libraries and Leisure facilities plus offers discounts at many outlets around Nottingham.

Low Floor bus services

Nottingham City Transport's low floor services - NCT's low floor and accessible services
trent bartons low floor services - www.trentbarton.co.uk