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Hail & Ride buses

Why we offer the service

Hail & Ride (H&R) offers a convenient service for customers on our bus network. They don't have to travel to a bus stop but can instead be picked up outside of a house or shop. H&R also allows us to create transport links for customers who may not have access to our network. 

Hail & Ride locations  

Our network has 86 routes with Hail & Ride sections. Some routes only have one H&R section, while others have several. They're primarily located in outer London boroughs (such as Barnet, Enfield and Sutton), allowing customers easy access to our bus network. The routes are often located down residential streets and minor roads.

Planning your Hail & Ride journey

You can find Hail & Ride locations using our bus spider maps. You can also find them on our route diagrams on timetables, which are displayed at all physical bus stop locations along the route. 

We're currently in the process of updating our travel tools to show H&R sections. Third-party services showing H&R sections are already available. 

Ride and hail safe stop symbol

Waiting for Hail & Ride  

You can ask the bus driver to stop by signaling at a safe point along the H&R section of the route. The safe point should:

  • Be away from junctions and traffic
  • Avoid parked vehicles and obstructions
  • Use a raised kerb for level or ramp boarding 

The bus driver will stop as close as possible in a safe position and wait for you to board. 

Ride and hail bus announcement symbol

On the bus  

Hail & Ride buses offer on-bus iBus announcements, which remind customers that they're joining and leaving an H&R section. The on-bus screen will also indicate when the bus is in a H&R section. 

On-bus screen indicating hail and ride section of bus route

Getting off the bus  

Press the stop button to get off the bus when traveling on a H&R route. The driver will stop in the next safe location and allow you off the bus. 

Hail & Ride conversions 

Hail & Ride offers many benefits to our customers but we recognise that fixed stops can enhance accessibility, provide shelter, and allow for better customer information to be displayed. To make our network inclusive and accessible we will continue to engage with boroughs across London to ensure H&R conversions can take place where possible.  

Contact us

Your feedback, input, and comments are crucial to help us improve and maintain our bus service. 

Find help and contacts to get in touch about our staff and other enquiries or contact us about buses