In Passing

 As most readers probably know, for many years there has been a war of words between some PTEs and bus operators over how bus services should be run in the conurbations. But PTE umbrella body PTEG has opened up a new front in the battle by taking on parts of the bus industry trade press, which it think are in operators’ pockets. Congratulations to Route One magazine for having the good grace to publish a letter this month from Jonathan Bray, director of the PTEG support unit, which begins: “It’s moderately amusing to see how the columnists in your appropriately priced journal alternate on a regular basis between portraying PTEG as a real and sinister threat one week, to being shatteringly and finally defeated the next.” Route One, in case you don’t know, is free.

Readers who have been following The Times’ new campaign to make Britain’s roads safer for cyclists may have experienced a strange sense of déjà vu. Why? Because the paper launched its campaign on 2 February with a front-page banner headline ‘Save our cyclists’. Which just so happened to be the very same front-page headline that The Independent used when it launched its cycle safety campaign last April (Media Monitor LTT 6 May 11). But whereas the Indy’s campaign appeared to quickly burn out, The Times looks like it has more mileage and may even make a difference. Who said the power of the press was on the wane?

 LTT can’t imagine that Highways Agency chief executive Graham Dalton was too chuffed to read point four of The Times’ eight-point manifesto for safer cycling, which states: “2% of the Highways Agency budget should be earmarked for new cycle routes, providing £100m a year towards cycling infrastructure.” But where did the idea come from? Well, Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Stephen Joseph this week claimed the credit, telling LTT he suggested it to Times correspondent Philip Pank.

 Many local authorities have recently taken steps to cut energy costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by switching off or dimming streetlights at night. Labour has voiced concern about the road safety and crime implications of the practice but Derbyshire County Council has just raised an altogether stickier problem. “Dog fouling is one of the most reported public concerns both during the day and particularly at night when the faeces are less obvious to pedestrians,” says the council. “The number of these complaints may increase if night time visibility is reduced.”