THE mother of Olympic cyclist Amy Gillett is pleading with politicians to support a new law to create a 1m safety barrier between travelling cars and cyclists.

Mary Safe - whose daughter was killed in a collision in Germany in 2005 - is writing to state MPs urging them to support a parliamentary Bill making it an offence for motorists to drive within 1m of cyclists.

The existing law requires a motorist to overtake cyclists at a "safe passing distance".

Mrs Safe's appeal comes as a bike rider died after colliding with a truck at the junction of Fullarton Rd and Wattle St on Wednesday.

TELL US: Should the speed limit be reduced to prevent more cyclist deaths?

"Anyone who has lost a loved one on a road never forgets and that's why people are passionate about this," Mrs Safe said.

Mary Safe with her late daughter Amy Gillett's bicycle. Picture: DYLAN COKER

"This law can be policed like any other on the road - such as tailgating or using a mobile phone - and I'm appealing to MPs to support the Bill because it's about saving lives."

Greens MP and keen bike rider Mark Parnell said he would introduce the Bill - which he is still finalising - to Parliament next month as part of a national initiative by the party.

"The Greens in SA are working with the Amy Gillett Foundation and other cycling groups and parliamentary colleagues interstate to develop new laws to help ensure a safe distance between travelling cyclists and cars," Mr Parnell said.

Bicycle SA has called for the introduction of other safety measures it believes will reduce casualties, such as reducing some suburban street limits to 40km/h.

"BSA seeks 40km/h zones in those non-arterial corridors that are designated as appropriate cycling routes" the group's chief executive Christian Haag said.

"These corridors will traditionally be quiet suburban streets that run parallel to the 60km/h arterial network."

The Advertiser this week revealed that the number of cyclists killed or injured on the state's roads each year had risen by 35 per cent in the past decade.

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