The relationship between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists is fraught at the best of times.

Motorists opening car doors on cyclists or driving too close; cyclists whizzing past pedestrians or wilfully ignoring signs; and pedestrians glued to their mobile phones as they walk across busy streets, oblivious to motorists and the rest of the world.

Cyclists will not be allowed to ride along the light rail line on George Street when it opens. Credit:James Brickwood

Throw trams into the equation, and it raises the potential conflict between the groups. By December, 67-metre trams will be passing through the heart of Sydney along George Street as regularly as every four minutes in either direction from 5am to 1am.

The start of passenger services within months raises questions about what cyclists, pedestrians and motorists are allowed – or more to the point, not permitted – to do in and around the multibillion-dollar light rail line from the central city to Sydney's south eastern suburbs.