Moseley Green Travel Choices

First Bus: Commuter Travel Club

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 09:06:13 +0000

If you regularly travel to work on a First Bus service then it may be worth checking if your employer is part of the Commuter Travel Club. If they are, you could make significant savings on monthly bus tickets!

Signing up is super simple, all you need is your work email address or an authorisation code from your HR/benefits team. Once signed up you’ll receive discounted monthly tickets straight to your smart phone! Follow the link below to find out more and check if your employer is already a member.

More information

If you’re an employer interested in getting cheaper travel for your staff, with no costs and no ongoing administration, follow the link below to find out more!

Information for EMployers

WY Metro: Corporate MCard

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 09:04:16 +0000

The Corporate Annual MCard is available to employees of West Yorkshire businesses that are part of the West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network. It’s worth checking if your employer is a member as you could make great savings on public transport travel.

Employees get a 12% discount on the full price of an Annual MCard – perfect if you’re a commuter using buses, or buses and trains run by different companies in West Yorkshire!

You can buy an MCard for bus only travel or bus and rail travel, with different prices for different rail zones. Follow the links below to find out more.

Corporate Annual MCard

Rail Zone Map

Save on Electric Vehicles

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 15:14:02 +0000

If you’re considering making the switch to an electric vehicle then it’s worth checking if your employer offers (or would consider offering) an Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme.

Salary sacrifice allows employees to pay for the lease of an EV out of their salary, before paying tax or National Insurance. Meaning you could save up to 50% on the cost of a car by purchasing through salary sacrifice.

Savings have been made even greater at the moment due to changes in the Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax policies, making electric vehicles free from BiK tax for 2020/21 with just 1% in 2021/22 and 2% in 2022/23 until 2025.

Find out more about Benefit in kind tax changes

If you’re an employer looking to set up an EV salary sacrifice scheme, Octopus energy are a great company that can help! Their website provides lots of useful information on an EV scheme from an employers point of view, follow the link below.

Octopus EV Salary Sacrifice information

Rail Season Tickets

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:48:52 +0000

If you make the same rail journey more than three times a week, on your commute to work for example, you may be able to make significant savings by purchasing a season ticket.

Season tickets offer better value for money compared with buying daily tickets, they allow unlimited travel in both directions between the two stations specified.

You can purchase a seven day ticket or a ticker for any period between one month and a year. A monthly season ticket offers great savings compared with buying four individual seven day season tickets.

You can buy season tickets at any staffed ticket office. If you are purchasing a season ticket for the first time you may need to have a Photocard created, where most season tickets are only valid with the corresponding Photocard.

Find out more, including how much you could save, using the links below.

Season Ticket information

Season Ticket Calculator

Public Transport: Local Choices

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 13:18:00 +0000

With a variety of handy tools and great services available, it’s never been easier to travel around by public transport. New technology means you don’t have to wait around at bus stops, many buses and trains now have WiFi on board, cashless ticket options and more!

There are a number of bus services available from the new homes at Moseley Green to and from locations including Leeds, Headingley, Otley and more. The closest stops can be found on Green Lane, just a short walk from your new home.

If your journey is over a slightly longer distance, travel by rail can be a great option! Horsforth station is the closest train station to your new home. Located less than 2km from Moseley Green, it takes around 20 minutes to get to the station on foot or just 5 minutes by bike.

From Horsforth station there are train services every 30 minutes both southbound into Leeds and northbound into York, with extra services during peak times. The service to Leeds remains every 30 minutes on Sundays, with the service to York reducing to every hour.

There are also daily services every two hours to London Kings Cross.

Leeds City Centre can be reached in around 45 minutes by bus, however, depending on when you are travelling, it can be quicker to get off at Horsforth station and catch a train into Leeds.

Key Local Bus Services

From the stops on Green Lane, you can catch bus service 23 which is operated by First Bus. This service runs between Leeds bus station and Holt Park. There’s a service every 15-20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, and every 30 minutes on evenings. On Sundays, buses run every 22 minutes.

23 timetable

There are two other, less frequent, services stopping at Green Lane; 940 and 31.

Service 940 is operated y Connexions Buses and runs between Otley and Holt Park. The service operates every hour between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Saturday.

Service 31 is a circular route between Horsforth and Holt Park and is operated by Squarepeg Buses. There are 5 services per day in each direction, Monday to Friday daytime with no evening or weekend services.

31 Timetable

940 Timetables

Planning your Journey

There are now a number of great options available for those looking to plan a journey by public transport. There’s no need to spend loads of time flicking through timetables to figure out which services work best for you – online journey planners can do that for you!

Our guide to planning a journey by public transport has everything you need to know, including links to some of the great online tools.

Paying for your Journey

Catching the bus or train no longer has to mean fumbling around for change before hopping on to pay the driver or conductor in a rush! There are so many different ways to pay for your journey now that you may feel a little spoilt for choice!

It’s also important to check that you aren’t paying too much. Whilst paying for single or return tickets is OK for occasional or one off journeys, those who travel more frequently by bus and/or rail can save some significant cash by choosing monthly or annual passes.

Check out our guide to ticket options in the local area for more information!

Real Time Information & Apps

Gone are the days of standing around waiting for your bus or train with little idea when it will turn up. Real time information makes it easy to find out exactly where your ride is at, helping you plan when to leave the house, office or coffee shop.

Bus operator apps have proved to offer a real step change when it comes to real time bus information. They display the exact location of your bus on a handy map, in a very similar style to the Uber app which many are now familiar with. If you are undertaking a journey by bus we’d advise that trying out an app is a must, and to help you out we’ve pulled together a handy guide to getting most from bus operator apps.

Support & Updates

Confused by timetables or just not sure which bus is best to catch? Did you know we can plan your journey for you?
Just let us know where you’re travelling to and we will provide you with an interactive journey plan that clearly sets out your options, with easy to follow, step by step instructions and a handy map.

Get in touch now to get support with your journey.

We’ve also put together a list of helpful Twitter feeds that will keep you up to date with any delays or services changes across the local area:

First (@FirstBusUK)
Arriva Yorkshire (@ArrivaYorkshire)
Metro Travel News (@MetroTravelNews)
Network Rail (@NetworkRail)
Leeds Travel Info (@LeedsTravelInfo)

WY Metro and First both have web pages devoted to giving service updates and information on any planned disruptions, view them here:

WY Metro Updates

First Updates

Public Transport: Ticket Options

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 10:37:39 +0000

Paying for a journey by public transport is now easier than ever! With a number of season tickets available in the area, contactless payments accepted on most services and even the option of purchasing and storing tickets on your smart phone you’ll find it super easy to find a payment method that suits you!

If you are a regular public transport user, make sure that you have spent some time exploring ways you could save some money. Paying on the day may be a quick and flexible option, but you could make some serious savings by buying a monthly or annual pass, or by booking your travel in advance.

First and Connexions Ticketing

Many of the local bus services are operated by First Bus or Connexions (owned by Harrogate Bus Co.) who offer a range of ticketing options aimed at making your journeys as cheap as possible. Both also now accept contactless payments on all services across the region, which is ideal if you plan on paying for your bus journey on the day of your travel.

For further details on First and Connexions tickets, including information on how to buy tickets via your smart phone, follow the links below.

First Ticket options

connexions ticket options

MCard

If your regular journey includes more than one bus operator, or is combined with a journey by rail, an MCard may offer a better option. The MCard is a smart card, administered by WY Metro that makes travelling on buses, train or both in West Yorkshire really simple and great value too!

MCard

Other Wy Metro Ticket Options

PLUSBUS

If you often use the bus to travel to/from the local train stations then a PLUSBUS ticket may be for you. A West Yorkshire area PLUSBUS ticket gives you unlimited bus travel on the participating operators’ services (including all First and Keighley Bus Co. services) around the Leeds and West Yorkshire area.

National Railcard holders get 33% off and children under 16 get 50% off day ticket prices. There are also season tickets available for commuters for seven days, a month, three months and a year.

More INFOrmation

Leeds Zone Map

Train Tickets

Finding good value train tickets is easier than ever, with a number of great online tools available! Horsforth station has a ticket office and ticket machines, making purchasing train tickets in person really simple. Alternatively, the Trainline app gives you ability to purchase digital tickets to store on your smartphone, as well as giving you live journey information.

Trainline app

Here are some of our tips for cheaper train travel:
Booking train travel in advance is an easy way to get cheaper tickets, with the number of cheap advance fares available doubling in the last few years! Advance tickets are available to buy as far as 12 weeks before your date of travel and can usually be purchased up until 6pm the day before!

If you’re making the same train journey three days per week or more, perhaps on your journey to work, then getting a season ticket could save you a considerable amount of money! Most season tickets of 7-days or longer can only be used by a specific person and will require a Photocard to validate them. Use National Rail’s handy tool to calculate the cost of different season tickets by follow the link below.

Season ticket calculator

Further Discounts

If you regularly commute to work by bus it’s worth checking if your employer is part of the First Corporate Travel Scheme, as you’ll get great discounts on annual bus tickets if they are!

Find out more

West Yorkshire Metro also have a discount available on Annual MCards for employees of businesses that are part of their Travel Plan Network. It’s worth checking if your employer is a member if you make journeys on both bus and train, or on buses with different operators.

FIND OUT MORE

If you regularly travel by train it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for a Railcard. You could be saving 1/3 on all of your train travel!

Find out more

There are a number of different concessions for seniors wishing to travel locally and nationally in England, across all types of public transport. For more information about eligibility and the concessions available, check out Age UK’s guide by following the link below.

Concession Tickets

Railcards: Discounted Train Travel

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:35:53 +0000

Railcards allow you to purchase train tickets at a reduced rate, typically 1/3 off the price of an adult ticket!

If you regularly travel by train, alone or with family or friends, investing in a Railcard could give you great savings in the long run!

How does it work?

There are a number of Railcards available, priced between £20 – £30 per year, offering different discounts on train travel. There are even some 3-year Railcards available offering even better value priced between £54 – £70.

You can purchase a Railcard online or at any National Rail staffed ticket office. You can book your train tickets online or in person, but in order to qualify for a reduced rate ticket you must be able to present your Railcard during your journey.

Types of Railcard

All the Railcards have different eligibility criteria, some will only give your a discounted rate and some will also cover the people travelling with you. There is no limit to the number of times you can use any Railcard but some Railcards can only be used outside of peak times.
Follow the links below to find out if any of the Railcards could work for you.

Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a new bike!

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 09:51:15 +0000

If you’re considering making the switch to a pedal-powered commute or would like to upgrade your current commuting bike then it’s worth checking if your employer is part of a Cycle to Work scheme with a provider such as Cyclescheme or Halfords Cycle2Work.

A Cycle to Work scheme allows you to save money on the cost of a new bike and spread payments with monthly tax-free instalments through your salary.

A few different scheme providers have their own variations but the basic idea is the same;

Your workplace registers with the provider
You choose the bike you want
Your employer pays for it
You pay your employer back through monthly instalments taken before your salary is taxed

You’ll therefore pay less tax and NI every month that you’re paying off the bike. Meaning that by the end of the scheme you’ll have saved up to 32% off the actual cost of the bike, as a basic-rate taxpayer and even more for higher-rate taxpayers!

There’s a financial benefit for your employer too. They end up paying less employer national insurance contribution.

So your employer gets monthly instalments from you for the bike, saves 13% in the process and gets a healthier, happier more productive staff member who doesn’t need a parking space!

Check out some of the FAQs from two of the main providers below, if you would like to know more.

Cycle2Work

Cyclescheme

Or, if you’re an employer that would like advice on setting up a Cycle to Work Scheme, check out the helpful guide below.

employers guide to The Cycle to WOrk scheme

Getting Around The Local Area By Bike

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Depending on how confident and fit a cyclist you are, there are a range of destinations that can be accessed by bike from Moseley Green.

Horsforth centre can be reached in under 10 minutes, where you’ll find an array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants.

You can reach National Cycle Route 66, within 15 minutes, at Kirkstall Forge; this route runs off-road along the canal towpath to Leeds city centre, with the full journey taking less than 40 minutes. In the opposite direction the route takes you towards Shipley and Bingley.

For more information on cycling in Leeds visit our useful cycling guides and resources page.

Planning a Journey by Bike

If you are unfamiliar with the local area and looking to plan a route by bike, an online route planner can be a really useful tool to use. You can enter your journey start point and end point and the route planner will display a number of route options on a handy map. Alongside easy to follow directions it will tell you how far the journey is, how long it will take, and even how hilly it is.

The City Connect Journey Planner also allows you to plan your journey from A to B. Simply enter your start and finish points and away you go!

Plan your journey

Why cycle?

Cycling is rapidly growing in popularity, and through the CV19 pandemic has for many people become an essential travel option. Cycling has always, however, been a great way to travel around for those able to do so. It offers many personal benefits, such as improved health and cost savings. It also offers significant benefit to the environment and local community, helping to take cars off the road, reducing pollution and reducing congestion.

Cycling can also be a great commuter travel option. If you’re new to cycling or aren’t really sure where to starting with your cycle-commute then check out some of our handy guidance on buying a commuter bike, commuting by bike whatever the weather and the benefits of choosing to travel actively.

FREE Public Transport Use and Car Club Credit!

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 14:53:42 +0000

At Moseley Green we are keen to encourage residents to give local sustainable transport options a go. For that reason we are offering new homeowners the chance to claim both of the following travel offers:

FREE Annual MCard

Claim a free annual MCard, permitting virtually unlimited bus and rail travel within West Yorkshire, for a whole year! To find out more about the MCard, click here.

FREE Car Club Membership & Credit

Claim a free years membership with Enterprise Car Club, with £50 in free drive time credit to help get you on the road. Find out more about the Enterprise Car Club here.

To claim your free MCard, simply complete the form below, or drop us an email at info@moseleygreen-travel.co.uk.

To claim your free Car Club membership and credit, simply download this flyer and follow the instructions provided.

Please note, one of each voucher can be claimed per address. If vouchers have been claimed previously for your address, you will not be eligible.