Figures show a 56 per cent increased in cyclists fined in the two months after stiffer penalties were introduced in NSW. Credit:Nick Moir The fine for riding without a helmet more than quadrupled on March 1 to $319. It means the amount of fines collected from people riding without helmets totalled $350,262 in March and April, compared with just over $50,000 in the same period in 2015. In contrast to the number of cyclists penalised, four motorists were fined for not passing cyclists at a safe distance during the period. As part of the tougher measures, motorists who pass a cyclist must allow a distance of at least one metre when the speed limit is 60 kilometres an hour or less, and 1.5 metres when the limit is more than 60km/h.

The figures from NSW Police show the number of people nabbed for cycling on footpaths rose to 166 in March and April, up from 101 previously. Fines issued for riding without a "working warning device" more than doubled to 60. Twelve cyclists were also penalised for running red lights, compared with none in the same period last year. The fine for failing to stop at a red light increased from $71 to $425 on March 1. Bicycle NSW chief executive Ray Rice said he was disappointed that only a few motorists had been fined for driving too close to cyclists. "We agree that education is the best method but it has to be backed up by a reasonable level of compliance, which is fining people," he said.

"[The number of motorists fined] does seem very low in proportion to the number of cycling fines issued in the same period." Mr Rice said he was not surprised at the increase in fines because feedback from cyclists had suggested that compliance monitoring had risen in the wake of the government's changes. Roads Minister Duncan Gay said he had been given no choice but to impose tougher deterrents given the high number of cycling injuries in NSW. "We don't want cyclists' money – that is not why we increased fines for high-risk and downright stupid behaviour. These changes are about improving safety," he said. "I don't want to see another dollar in fine revenue but I do hope to see a reduction in cyclist injuries. It is simple: if you wear a helmet, you won't get fined."

However, Greens transport spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said the government needed to ask itself whether its punitive approach actually made people safer or would take cyclists off the roads. "The government justified increasing the fines by up to 450 per cent as a deterrent against what they characterised as unsafe behaviour. But all that's happened is more infringement notices have been issued, as police have gone on blitzes to rake in more revenue," she said. She said there had not been "any serious strategy" by the government for investing in bike infrastructure. The stiffer penalties in NSW for cyclists are said to be among the toughest in the world for people who opt for pedal power. The latest figures also show three people were fined for riding their "bicycle furiously" in March and April, compared with four previously.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander John Hartley said police would continue to do whatever was needed to help keep the roads safe for everyone. "Enforcement will always be necessary to educate road users in NSW. So far this year, one cyclist has died on our roads, compared to two this time last year," he said. "While one death on the road is one too many, this gives some positive indication that riders and cyclists alike are taking personal responsibility for their road use."