Smooth path: Cyclists call for goodwill to rule on the roads. Picture: City of Albany

WA cycling groups want to see an end to the "us and them" mentality, saying relations between cyclists and non-cyclists could be improved with a bit of goodwill on both sides.

A day after the Raffles Hotel said it would not serve cycling groups because their bikes were a hazard and unpopular with nearby residents, Bicycling WA chief executive Jeremey Murray said the hotel had missed an opportunity.

Instead of banning cycling groups, he said it could spend a few hundred dollars on bike racks. That way they could capitalise on the huge number of cyclists passing through.

Peter Bartlett, from the Bicycle Transport Alliance, said the incident, which sparked a fiery online response, could likely have been resolved with "a bit of goodwill".

"It's not an us or them, it's an issue of goodwill," he said.

"I wouldn't say that cyclists are fault-free but I'm sure with a bit of consideration the issue could have been addressed."

A group of four cyclists turned away from the Raffles on Sunday claim they were told the hotel had a no-lycra policy.

Raffles management later apologised for any "miscommunication" but said its policy related only to big groups of cyclists and suggested the local council should provide bike racks.

It could not say how many cyclists constituted a big group.

City of Melville chief executive Shayne Silcox said the city had never received a request for bike facilities from the Raffles but it had recognised the need for them.

It planned to install suitable bike parking close to the Raffles and the Canning Highway bicycle path.