rebus Regionalbus Rostock GmbH (hereinafter referred to as “rebus”) operates a booking platform under the product name “rubi” for on-demand scheduled bus service (on-call bus service). The corresponding transportation services are provided by rebus or by third parties commissioned by rebus. The on-demand bus service is integrated into the Warnow Transportation Association (hereinafter referred to as “VVW”) in terms of both operations and fares.
The service applies exclusively to the Rostock district and covers several clearly defined on-demand bus regions. Urban areas such as Rostock and Güstrow are not included in the service area but can be reached via transfer points. These Terms of Use apply to all contractual and pre-contractual legal relationships in connection with the provision and use of the booking platform, regardless of whether it is accessed via an app or a web application. The on-demand bus transportation services booked via the booking platform are subject to the VVW’s fare conditions in their currently valid version.
To use the booking platform, you must first register as a user (create a customer account). The following information is required for this:
- Last name and first name
- Cell phone number
- or email address
Registration can be completed via the free app or the web interface. To use the app, you must also download and install it from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. There are no additional costs associated with this. Users are obligated to promptly update any data essential to the contractual relationship (particularly contact information) in their personal login area whenever changes occur. If users fail to comply with their obligation to provide information, rebus or a service provider commissioned by rebus is entitled to bill the user for any additional expenses incurred as a result.
Once initial registration is complete (see § 2), the user is authorized to submit ride requests and book rides.
Our rubi can be booked at any time, provided a vehicle is available.
The minimum travel distance for bookings is 1,000 meters as the crow flies between the starting point and the destination. Ride requests that fall short of this distance are automatically rejected by the system and are not offered for booking. The determining factor is not the distance between two stops, but the direct as-the-crow flies distance between the selected starting point and destination. After entering and confirming the desired trip details, the booking platform’s backend system—taking into account currently available vehicles and available seating capacity—generates a specific trip suggestion and displays it to the user.
In addition to the on-demand bus, the system evaluates possible alternatives in local public transportation (e.g., scheduled bus or train) as well as combinations thereof. The available options are analyzed and compared using a rating system. The connection with the highest overall score is recommended. In addition, internal system parameters are factored into the evaluation to avoid overlapping trips between scheduled service and the on-demand bus.
The availability of the on-demand bus is managed dynamically based on various weighted factors, which means that the on-demand bus is not automatically offered during every gap in the regular schedule. Instead, it is deployed specifically where there is no suitable regular service. The on-demand bus is integrated into the public transit system and serves specific stops where passengers can transfer to other buses or trains. In this way, the on-demand bus serves as a feeder service and complements the existing public transit system. Use of the proposed route is voluntary.
The on-demand bus system is controlled entirely automatically based on predefined parameters and algorithms. Manual override by rebus is technically impossible, as the system operates without any option for user intervention.
The following information is displayed as part of the route suggestion:
- Estimated pickup time (time window)
- estimated arrival time (time window)
- estimated travel time
- Estimated distance
- Route from the location to the pickup point (displayed on a map)
- Route from the pickup location to the arrival location (displayed on a map)
- Route from the arrival point to the destination (displayed on a map)
- The fare or fare portion for the route taken by the on-demand bus
The user can confirm this trip proposal within 5 minutes by clicking a selection button. If the booking is not confirmed within this time frame, the trip proposal automatically expires. Upon confirmation, the trip proposal becomes a binding reservation, and the four-digit authorization code for this trip is displayed via the booking platform. The contract of carriage is concluded with rebus. The fare is to be paid to the staff on board the vehicle.
Vehicles equipped with ramps are available for passengers who use wheelchairs. For operational reasons, these vehicles are not permanently assigned to regular route service but are made available as needed. Transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is only possible after prior telephone registration at least 24 hours before the start of the trip. The relevant service center will then verify the availability of such a vehicle and confirm this with the customer. A contract for transportation using a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is only concluded after confirmation by phone from customer service.
There are no costs or fees associated with using the booking platform. The user is responsible for any connection costs incurred through its use.
Upon confirmation of the ride proposal submitted by the booking platform, a contract of carriage is formed between the user and rebus in accordance with the prior booking. The successful formation of the contract of carriage is indicated by the four-digit authorization code for the ride.
The user owes rebus the fare specified at the time of booking. The fare is calculated based on the fare zones to be traveled through, in accordance with the VVW fare schedule.
When boarding the vehicle, all passengers must present their authorization code without being asked, either:
- either verbally,
- by displaying it on a mobile device, or
- by presenting a printed copy.
A ticket must be purchased from the driver or an existing ticket must be presented. The driver is authorized to inspect the fare ticket and, if necessary, to retain it. Passengers are required to have their fare ticket ready for inspection and to hand it over to the driver upon request.
Disability ID cards are accepted on rebus’s on-demand bus service within their period of validity, in accordance with the provisions of Book Nine of the Social Code (SGB IX). Passengers with a valid severe disability ID card must present it to the driver for inspection upon boarding the vehicle without being asked.
The VVW’s General Conditions of Carriage and Fare Regulations, as amended from time to time, apply.
Other payment methods are not available. Users are not entitled to use alternative payment methods. Rebus and/or VVW may also offer other payment methods. In this case, all users of the booking platform will be informed of the available options and the applicable terms and conditions.
All ride reservations made through the booking platform may be canceled at any time by the user via the booking platform.
If there is a delay of more than 15 minutes in providing the vehicle at the pickup location that is not the fault of the user, the booking may be canceled without this being considered a missed booking. This does not apply if the delay is due to force majeure or other unavoidable events.
Cancellations without a valid reason—particularly those made less than 60 minutes before the departure time specified on the booking platform—may, if they occur repeatedly, be considered repeated misconduct within the meaning of Section 7.3.
Ride reservations may also be canceled by rebus. This may be necessary, in particular, in the event of technical malfunctions, accidents, or significant traffic disruptions, such as traffic jams or adverse weather conditions. In such cases, the user will be notified of the cancellation immediately.
Deliberately blocking trips by making multiple bookings for the same or similar routes on the same calendar day—especially with different times and without any apparent intention to use the service—is considered abusive behavior.
This may result in the immediate suspension of the customer’s account, regardless of the time period. Repeated last-minute cancellations of such bookings are also considered booking manipulation.
The user may delete the customer account created during registration at any time by clicking the corresponding button under the account information. Alternatively, the user may request deletion by sending a written request via email to kundenanliegen@rebus.de.
A customer account is considered inactive if the user has not logged into their account for a period of 36 months. After this period, rebus reserves the right to permanently delete the account and all associated data, provided there are no legal retention requirements. This is done in accordance with the privacy policy and applicable data protection laws, in particular in accordance with Article 17 of the GDPR.
Before an inactive account is permanently deleted, the user will be notified by email at least 30 days in advance. This gives the user the opportunity to reactivate the account. If the account is not reactivated within this period, it will be deleted.
If statutory or contractual retention obligations apply, the relevant data will be stored in accordance with these requirements.
In the event of misuse of the customer account, rebus may suspend the account temporarily or permanently. This applies in particular to repeated or serious violations of the VVW’s fare and transportation conditions, as well as the booking platform’s terms of use.
Detailed provisions regarding suspension measures for repeated booking misconduct, as well as the corresponding criteria and consequences, can be found in § 7.3. These provisions are intended to ensure the reliability of the service for all users.
Rebus is entitled, even without the user’s consent, to modify the booking platform, the app, or the service in any way at its sole discretion, particularly for the purposes of further development, improvement, or bug fixes.
By using the booking platform, the user expressly consents to the processing and further processing of their data by rebus, VVW, and ioki to ensure the platform’s functionality. The processing is carried out in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.
Rebus is also entitled to discontinue the booking platform at any time and to suspend the service, including traffic, in whole or in part. No separate notice of termination to the user is required for this purpose. Rebus will notify the user of this in writing.
In the event of significant changes to these Terms of Use, the user’s active consent is required. A notification will appear on the booking platform informing users of the change. The current version of the Terms of Use can be viewed via a link. Continued use of the booking platform is only permitted after the user has given their express consent by clicking a confirmation checkbox. This consent is documented and serves as legally binding proof.
rebus’s liability in connection with the provision and use of the on-demand bus service—including access to the applications, websites, and content—with the exception of liability for injury to life, limb, or health—is limited to cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of rebus, its legal representatives, or its agents, provided that the damages are not covered by insurance policies in force. This does not affect liability for breach of material contractual obligations (so-called cardinal obligations) or any liability under the Product Liability Act. We assume no liability for services provided by third parties as part of our intermodal mobility solutions. Any claims must be settled directly with the respective provider. Liability for the provider’s acts or omissions is excluded to the extent permitted by law. If rebus has established different liability provisions in its General Conditions of Carriage or Terms of Use, those provisions shall take precedence.
Information regarding data protection can be found in the privacy policy for this booking platform. Contact information for the Data Protection Officer:
rebus Regionalbus Rostock GmbH
Data Protection Officer
Parumer Weg 35
18273 Güstrow
Email: datenschutz@rebus.de
German law applies, to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. There are no verbal side agreements. Should any individual provision of these Terms of Use be or become invalid in whole or in part, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
Rebus is entitled to amend these Terms of Use at any time. The user will be notified of such changes via the booking platform. Continued use of the booking platform is only permitted if the user agrees to the amended Terms of Use. The procedure for providing consent is set forth in Section 8.4 of these Terms of Use. For all disputes arising from or in connection with the shuttle bus service, Güstrow is agreed upon as the exclusive venue—to the extent permitted by law.
Effective as of August 20, 2025
- The following texts are to be provided only as PDF files.
