How to travel by Bus in South Yorkshire

You can use the Travel South Yorkshire journey planner to see which bus services are available for your journey. Enter your starting point in the 'From' box and select the best match from the drop-down list. Repeat for the 'To' box. Then choose your travel date and time and select Show my routes.

The journey planner will show you the best route options, including which bus services you can use.

Whether you already know the bus service you need or you’re new to the area and only know your destination, you can find your nearest bus stop using the Travel South Yorkshire journey planner. When you plan your journey, your nearest bus stop will be shown as part of your journey plan.

Alternatively, most of our online timetables contain a route map to help you find your nearest bus stop. Routes are shown as a line, with individual stops shown by circles. Roads which services stop on are also listed as stopping points in the timetable.

A bus stop is usually marked by a pole with a sign called a bus stop flag. This flag has:

• The bus stop name or location
• A unique bus stop number

Some busy stops such as those in city and town centres may also have a list of bus services that stop there

Bus stops may also have timetable information, or electronic displays with real-time information, which shows which services stop there and when they are due.

You can use the unique bus stop number to check for service information on the Travel South Yorkshire Journey Planner or Live Departures.

Checking you are on the right side of the road
Many roads have bus stops on both sides, each serving different directions. To make sure you are waiting at the correct stop:

• Look at any timetable or live departure information displayed at the stop to check which bus services stop there and the direction they are going in
• Check the direction your bus travels before boarding by looking at the front of the bus
• Use a journey planner or map to confirm which specific stop your bus departs from, and use the unique number to check

Shelters and seating
Bus stops vary depending on location and level of use. Some stops include:

• Shelters to protect you from the weather
• Seating
• Raised kerbs to make boarding easier

Bus stop facilities vary depending on how busy the stop is and where it's located.

There are different ticket options available, and the best one will depend on several factors.

You can use the Travel South Yorkshire ticket finder to check different ticket options. Enter details about how you’re travelling and then review the different tickets available.

You may be eligible for discounted or free tickets:

• If you’re a young person: Operators may offer discounted travel (when a valid pass is shown) for children and adults under 21.
• If you’re a student: Some operators offer discounted travel for 18+ students.
• If you’re an older person: Free travel between 0930 and 2300 on weekdays, and at any time during the weekend and on Bank Holidays if you're aged 66+ and have a Senior Pass.
• If you have a disability: Free travel if you have a Disabled Pass.

A single ticket is a ticket which is only valid for one journey. Once you leave the bus you won’t be able to use the ticket again. You also can’t use it on any other bus operator’s services.

If you’re travelling more than once in a day, it may be better value to get a day ticket or another ticket which is valid for a longer period. Use our ticket finder to see different options.

A day ticket is a ticket which is valid for travel on one day. You can use it as many times as you like on that day only.

Some day tickets are only valid with certain bus operators, whereas others can be used with multiple bus operators.

If you’re travelling multiple days a week, it may be better value to get a weekly ticket or another ticket which is valid for a longer period. Use our ticket finder to see different options.

Most tickets are operator specific, so can only be used on the bus services operated by the operator which sold the ticket.

Certain tickets such as those sold by TravelMaster are multi-operator tickets, meaning they can be used on multiple services.

You can use the Travel South Yorkshire ticket finder to check different ticket options and availability. The ticket you purchase will confirm the name of the ticket and its validity.

Most tickets are bus-only, so can’t be used on tram and train services.

Certain tickets such as those sold on the TSY Mobile app and TravelMaster are multi-modal tickets, meaning they can be used on both the bus and tram and/or train. These may offer better value if you regularly travel by multiple forms of transport, such as the bus and tram.

You can use the Travel South Yorkshire ticket finder to find tickets which are valid on multiple modes of transport.

There are different locations where you can buy a bus ticket. Not all locations sell the same range of tickets.

• On the bus: You can buy single journey tickets and certain other tickets such as day tickets from the bus driver, using either cash or contactless.
• At an Interchange: Ticket vending machines at certain Interchanges allow you buy tickets to load onto a smartcard.
• From the TSY Mobile app
• From the TravelMaster app
• From an operator’s app: Stagecoach App, Frist Bus App

Aim to get to the bus stop a few minutes before it is due to arrive. This means you’ll be ready to board without rushing.

Bus drivers to try to ensure that the bus remains on time, but this can be affected by traffic and road conditions, and where the bus is on the route. You can also use the live departures tool to search for your bus stop and see live updates for the bus, including countdown times (for example, ‘5 min’) and scheduled times (shown in hours:minutes format), as well as the current location of the bus.

Buses are scheduled to arrive according to the service timetable. Most bus stops in South Yorkshire have a printed timetable available at the stop, and some stops have real-time information displays with live departure times.

You can use the Travel South Yorkshire journey planner to plan your journey, which will show the time the bus is scheduled to depart . You can also use the live departures tool to search for your bus stop and see live updates for the bus, including seeing the current location of the bus on an interactive map.

Alternatively, you can search for a bus service timetable using our timetable finder to view the full timetable for the service.
 

While you’re waiting at the bus stop, look for the bus approaching. When you see the bus approaching, check it is the service you want by reading the number and destination on the front display.

As the bus approaches, put out your hand or make a signal to the driver that you want to board the bus. Ensure to stay a safe distance away from the side of the road. If it’s dark, you may want to use a light (such as the torch on a phone) to ensure the driver can see you.

All public bus services in South Yorkshire are easy access, as required by law, with ramps as standard on all vehicles. Buses also have poles and handles to help you board and move around the bus, with easier access priority seating located near to the front of the bus.

If you need further help, ask the driver for assistance. You can also use journey assistance cards to help communicate your requirements.

If you have already bought your ticket, you do not need to say anything to the driver. Simply show your ticket, or scan your smartcard or QR code as you board.

If you need to buy a ticket on the bus, tell the driver what ticket you want and, if needed, your destination (for example, “Single to Sheffield city centre, please” or “Day ticket, please”). On most buses you can pay by cash or contactless card or mobile payment.

You don’t need identification (ID) to board or use the bus, but you do need photo ID travel passes for certain discounts and exemptions. View more information about travel passes.

You can sit on any available seat on the bus.

Priority seating is available near the front of the bus, which is intended for people who may have mobility requirements, are pregnant, elderly, or are unable to stand during the journey.

If you’re sitting in a priority seat, please consider offering it to someone in greater need if there are no other priority seats available for them.

Buses can only stop at designated bus stops and interchanges. Most bus services can stop at any bus stop along the route, except limited-stop services which only use certain stops on the route.

Make sure you know what stop you need to get off the bus at. If you need extra help, talk to the driver when you get on the bus to ask them to let you know when you are approaching your stop. The driver may not know your end destination, so try to reference main roads or bus stop names.

A limited-stop bus service is one which does not stop at every bus stop along the route.

These services deliberately only stop at certain stops to help speed up journeys.

When you use our journey planner, it will automatically only show stops which the bus will use. You can search for a bus service timetable using our timetable finder to view the full timetable, and if it’s limited stop there will be a section with full information and a list of stopping points.

As you approach the stop you want to get off at, press the ‘Stop’ button to ring the bell. This will notify the driver that you want to leave the bus.

If you need extra help, talk to the driver when you get on the bus to ask them to let you know when you are approaching your stop. You can also use journey assistance cards to help tell the driver the stop you require.

Most buses have space for a pushchair near the front of the bus. Please be aware that there may not be space for a pushchair on the bus if it is very busy, or if the space is being used by someone using a wheelchair. Please do not block the aisle and fold down your pushchair if needed.

You must make space for someone using a wheelchair to use the space if required.

Bikes and scooters are not typically allowed onboard buses. Folding bikes may be permitted in certain circumstances if they are small enough. Check with the bus operator before you travel or with the bus driver before you board.

Yes, you can, but please consider that traveling at busier times of day with large amounts of luggage may be uncomfortable for you and other passengers. In certain scenarios the bus driver may not allow you to board with certain luggage or items for safety reasons.

No, you can’t smoke or use e-cigarettes on buses. This is for health and safety of other passengers and the driver.

Pets are normally allowed on buses, but this is up to the driver, who will need to prioritise the health and safety of all passengers. Check with the bus operator before you travel or with the bus driver before you board. Please ensure you always keep your pet under control.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are always allowed on buses.

You are normally able to take food and drink onto the bus but ensure that it is packaged suitably. Hot drinks must be in a travel-safe container. Most bus operators request that you don’t eat or drink on board the bus but check with the operator for specific information.

Alcohol is never allowed to be consumed on the bus.

The operator of the bus will be able to help check for lost items. Check who was operating the service using either your ticket or by re-planning the journey using our journey planner. You can contact the operator using the contact details provided on our webpage.

If you’ve had a positive experience on your journey, we’d love to hear more about it. Contact Traveline and we’ll pass on the details to the specific operator.

We’re sorry if you’ve had a poor experience on your journey. Please tell us more about what happened so that we can ensure that it is suitably reported and improved for next time. View ways to contact Traveline.

If you have witnessed troublemakers or an incident on public transport, at an interchange or at a stop, or damage to a shelter, you can report it in various way. View more information about how to contact the right organisation.

In an emergency you should call 999 and speak to the nearest member of staff.