Road rules have been changed in an effort to improve safety for Tasmanian cyclists.

From the end of the month, it will no longer be illegal for vehicles to cross continuous white lines to pass a cyclist.

But it will only be permitted on a straight stretch of road and if the driver can maintain a one-metre distance from cyclists in a 60 kilometre per hour zone.

The distance in higher speed zones will be 1.5 metres.

Emma Pharo, who is the cycling representative on the Road Safety Council, said it was an important rule change because the number of people cycling was growing.

In some locations the number of cyclists has increased 30 per cent.

She urged the Government to turn its focus to other areas of the law.

"We need to be doing a whole lot of different things to help vulnerable users, all these steps are welcome," she said.

"Most of the injuries are caused by the usual suspects; drugs, inattention, alcohol and we know that intersections are the real danger zones for cyclists."

Safety lane advocate Rae Wells said people already crossed white lines to overtake cyclists and it was a case of legislation catching up with reality.

"That occurs so many times every day it would be impossible to book people for doing it," she said.

But cyclist Robert Taylor, who spent two months in a brace after being hit by a car from behind, welcomed the change.

"It's one of the greatest breakthroughs I think we've heard for a long time," he said.

The change comes into effect on February 25.

No cyclists died on Tasmanian roads last year but in 2013 the death toll was four.