FlexiBus
Page contents
- Flexible, on-demand bus travel
- Book now
- Plan your journey
- Operating times
- Zones and key destinations
- All zones map
- Area maps
- How to book
- Book by phone
- Downloading the Ride Pingo App
- Using the Ride Pingo app
- Booking confirmation
- Cancellations and missed rides
- Late buses
- Fares and tickets
- How to pay
- Concessionary pass holders
- Multi-Operator Day Passes
- Travelling with us
- Accessibility
- Travelling with children
- Lost property
- Feedback
- Contact us
- FlexiBus, a new way to travel in East Sussex
Flexible, on-demand bus travel
FlexiBus is a flexible, on-demand rideshare service, for areas with limited or no bus service. Residents can book a FlexiBus journey to their nearest town, train station, hospital and other key destinations. FlexiBus links people to our improved conventional bus services.
Give the bus a go. December special offer: FlexiBus fares will be £1 only on the following dates:
- Saturday 2 December
- Saturday 9 December
- Saturday 16 December
- Saturday 23 December
- Monday 18 - Friday 22 December
This discount will automatically be applied on the bus on these dates. If booking via the app, choose 'Pay on Vehicle'.
Read on for further information on the Flexibus service on this web page. You can also download the Flexibus leaflet (PDF) for printing.
Book now
Call: 01273 078203 (6.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday)
Online: via the Ride Pingo app
Plan your journey
Journeys can be made:
- to and from anywhere within a zone
- to and from key destinations outside a zone ( other transport links, towns and so on)
FlexiBus operates exclusively for places not served by a regular transport service. You can’t book a FlexiBus journey to travel along an existing public transport route.
Operating times
Services run 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday (not Sundays or Bank holidays).
Zones and key destinations
All zones map
See all FlexiBus zones and the key destinations outside each zone.
To plan a journey use the interactive individual map links below or check on the RidePingo app. Enter a postcode or location (your home address, for example) to check if FlexiBus runs there.
Area maps
Travel to and from:
- anywhere within a zone
- key destinations outside a zone (other transport links and towns for example)
| (see maps for more) | Zone |
| Lewes, Polegate, Seaford, Newhaven | Zone 1 |
| Newick, Uckfield, Lewes, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath | Zone 2 |
| Forest Row, East Grinstead, Crowborough, Uckfield | Zone 3 |
| Crowborough, Heathfield, Hailsham, Uckfield | Zone 4 |
| Tunbridge Wells, Mayfield, Crowborough | Zone 5 |
| Hawkhurst, Heathfield, Mayfield, Etchingham | Zone 6 |
| Battle, Ninfield, Robertsbridge, Heathfield | Zone 7 |
| Bexhill, Herstmonceux, Ninfield, Battle | Zone 8 |
| Hawkhurst, Northiam, Hastings, Robertsbridge | Zone 9 |
| Hastings, Rye, Northiam | Zone 10 |
How to book
You can book a FlexiBus ride up to 30 minutes before you want to travel and up to 7 days in advance. Bookings can be made online, using an app and by telephone to our call centre.
You can book up to five seats per trip, subject to availability.
To help make rides as efficient as possible, passengers cannot add multiple stops or change their pickup/drop off location.
Book by phone
Call 01273 078203 - 6.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday.
At busy times, you can leave a voicemail message and someone will call you back.
Downloading the Ride Pingo App
Using the Ride Pingo app
Download the Ride Pingo app using a smartphone or tablet. Scan the QR code above or use the links below:
With Ride Pingo, you can:
- quickly see your closest meeting point
- book and pay for your ride
- track your vehicle in real-time.
Watch a video: How to use the Ride Pingo app
Pre-purchased tickets are validated by the driver, or you can pay on the bus. Always use the latest version of the app. Remember to carry the device you booked on with you.
Booking confirmation
App bookings will receive a confirmation within the app, with an estimated pick up and drop off time. This time may vary slightly, within a few minutes either side of the estimated time.
Telephone bookings will receive a confirmation phone call where contact details have been provided.
Your ride confirmation will be the zone name and vehicle number plate. The driver will check your booking details when you board. All buses will have the FlexiBus branding on the side and the front.
Receipts are sent via email.
Cancellations and missed rides
Cancel a booking via the app or by phone. If you cancel up to 30 minutes before the start of your booking, you will receive a full refund.
Missed rides delay other passengers - please cancel where possible. Missed rides will be charged in full. Frequent cancellations or missed rides may result in your account being suspended.
Late buses
We will always aim to be at your meeting point on time but occasionally circumstances out of our control may cause a delay. You can use the app to keep updated on the bus arrival time.
Fares and tickets
During Saturdays in December before Christmas and the week before Christmas, paid fares are £1. If booking on the app, choose 'Pay on Vehicle'. Carry cash or a card to pay on bus for this special offer.
FlexiBus uses a simple fare structure to make it easier to understand and budget for. The cost will be clearly displayed on the app or when booking over the phone.
Until 31 December 2024, the cost of FlexiBus fares will be capped at £2 for single journeys due to the Government price cap. See: Help for Households - travel costs - GOV.UK
| Fare type | Age/concession | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Concessionary pass holder | Free (usual time restrictions apply) | |
| Under 5s | Free | |
| Single | Adult | £2 fare price cap (normally £3.50) |
| Child (5-18) | £2 fare price cap (normally £2.50) | |
| Return | Adult | £4 fare price cap (normally £4.50) |
| Child (5-18) | £3 | |
| Day Pass | Adult | £5 |
| Young Persons (19-29) | £3.75 | |
| Child (5-18) | £3.20 |
How to pay
You can pay when booking, by debit or credit card, within the Ride Pingo app or over the phone.
Payment can also be made on the bus: cash, card and contactless.
For our December £1 offers, payments must be made on board the bus. Don't forget your card or cash!
Concessionary pass holders
Concessionary pass holders travel free. The usual time restrictions apply, see: When you can use your bus pass.
Show the driver your bus pass when boarding and tap it on the on bus ticket machine. Concessionary pass holders are still required to cancel rides if travel plans change.
Multi-Operator Day Passes
Multi-Operator Day Passes can be used on FlexiBus services. Tickets can be bought via the app or on the bus. FlexiBus services will accept Multi-Operator Day Passes that have been issued by other operators that are participating in the East Sussex scheme.
Travelling with us
Accessibility
Buses are accessible by wheelchair users via a rear lift and have a wheelchair space on board which can be booked through the app or by phone. Due to limited space on board we cannot carry mobility scooters.
Assistance dogs are welcome on board our buses.
Drivers are highly trained and can offer extra support at your pick-up point or destination. If you have a specific requirement or want to request a meeting point closer to your home to assist with accessibility, please contact us.
If you have a visual impairment or mobility limitations and use a frame, walking stick or crutches, you can use the ‘mobility assistance’ option in the app or through the call centre.
This means you will not need to book the dedicated wheelchair space, but the vehicle will still get as close as possible for your pick-up and drop you as close as possible to your destination to save you having to walk too far. You can also request this option through the call centre.
Travelling with children
Prams and buggies may sometimes need to be folded to keep the dedicated wheelchair space free.
Children who are travelling on their own are, where possible, recommended to book via the app on the device they will be travelling with. This is so that they can receive trip notifications. If someone else makes the booking, that person will receive the booking updates.
Can children travel alone on FlexiBus services?
All children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.
Lost property
If you have left something on board, please get in touch via telephone 01273 078203. We will try and reunite you with your lost item as soon as possible.
Feedback
Your feedback helps us improve our service.
Users of the Ride Pingo app can give feedback during various stages of the booking process. You will also be prompted to give a ride rating, following a journey.
You can also send feedback using the contact details on this page, or via our social media channels.
Contact us
- Phone: 01273 078203 - 6.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday (not Sundays or Bank holidays)
- Email: FlexiBus team
FlexiBus, a new way to travel in East Sussex
