A new app which aims to streamline multi-operator public transport journeys across Nottingham and Derby, has reached a key milestone, with 11,300 downloads in under three months.
The Ride app is an all-in-one public transport app launched in December 2025 as part of a £4 million project developed in collaboration with Nottingham City Council and Derby City Council. Now operated by the East Midlands Combined County Authority, Ride is funded by the government’s Future Transport Zones, which provides grants for trialling innovative transport technologies and mobility services.
Designed to simplify journeys across multiple modes of transport, Ride has quickly become the go-to platform for planning trips and buying bus and tram tickets as well as paying for Lime e-bike and Dott e-scooter journeys.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Reaching more than 11,000 downloads in just three months is a fantastic achievement and shows how ready people are for a more joined-up transport system. By working closely with Nottingham and Derby city councils, we’ve delivered a solution that genuinely makes everyday travel easier.
“Nottingham and Derby are already strong public transport cities and Ride builds on that success by bringing buses, trams, trains and shared mobility together in one simple app. It’s helping residents, students and visitors move around with confidence, while supporting our shared ambition to cut carbon emissions.
“This is just the start. As the app continues to grow, it will play an important role in shaping a cleaner, smarter and better connected East Midlands for the future.”
Jorgen Pedersen, Ride’s technical lead, said: “We launched Ride in December, and the adoption figures already show how indispensable it has become. Feedback from users has been phenomenal – people appreciate how quickly and intuitively it helps them navigate the complexity of urban transport.
“The East Midlands, from Derby to Nottingham, is home to large academic communities as well as a thriving business hub – not to mention a fantastic destination for leisure and hospitality.
“Ride is only going to provide residents, students or even visitors be able to make the most of everything the region has to offer; and this is only the beginning of redefining that element of mobility here, with the app removing the friction from multi-modal travel, encouraging sustainable transport choices, and providing integrated ticketing and journey options all in one platform. And there’s so much more still to come.”
Nottingham has one of the highest levels of bus usage outside London, ranking second in the country for passenger journeys per head, while Derby has been recognised as the best area for bus passenger satisfaction, with 92 per cent of users reporting a positive experience. Together, these cities represent major public transport hubs in the East Midlands.
Through the app, travellers can map seamless door-to-door journeys across multiple providers, making sustainable travel easier, more accessible and more convenient, supporting both cities’ ambitions to cut carbon emissions. Through an interactive live map, users can track buses in real time and tailor the platform to their preferred modes of transport or frequently used operators. The app also provides precise departure guidance, including when to leave to walk to a bus stop or collect an e-bike, helping to remove uncertainty from every stage of the journey.
Ride also enables users to purchase tickets directly within the app, with options to select either the most cost-effective or the fastest route. Tickets are securely stored in a digital wallet and can be scanned when required.
Jorgen said: “This year, we’ll introduce further accessibility features, including technology that recommends accessible routes and identifies buses with step-free access. We’ll also look to enhance ticket integration across more operators, notifications for service changes and further optimise journey planning and live traffic updates.”
With plans to add more operators, integrate with local cycling schemes, and offer real-time journey insights, the Ride app is set to become an essential travel companion for commuters across the East Midlands. Councils are also using anonymised app data to inform transport planning, improve services and create a feedback loop that benefits the wider community.
The Ride app can be downloaded from the Play Store for Android devices and App Store for iOS. Click here to find out more.
The Ride app is a free, all-in-one mobility app designed to make travel across Nottingham and Derby simpler and smarter. Developed as a joint programme by Nottingham and Derby city councils, and powered by mobility technology specialists Trafi, the platform brings together multiple transport providers into a fully integrated service. Designed to remove the barriers often associated with multi operator travel, Ride enables users to plan, book, pay and ride using one app, supporting both councils’ wider ambitions to encourage modal shift and reduce carbon emissions.
Unlike single operator apps, Ride offers a multi modal and intermodal experience, combining buses, trams, trains, walking, driving and shared mobility options such as e-bikes, e-scooters and car clubs where available. The app provides real-time information across most services, including live bus tracking and departure boards, alongside integrated digital ticketing and secure payment options.