While most road users will condemn this type of behaviour there is a significant and vocal minority who think cyclists have no right to be on the road and it's OK to harass, abuse and even injure them. Led on by shock jocks and some rabid sections of the media, they have incited a war between cyclists and motorists. Whatever you think of cyclists - and there are plenty of arguments both for and against them - the unarguable fact is they have a legal right to be on the road. They have a right to ride two abreast. They have a right to be given at least a metre's distance when you pass them. All of these things are sanctioned by law, even if the laws are not applied, as today's article by Julie Power reveals. Loading Only 70NSW motorists have been fined for driving too close to cyclists since the safe passing rules were introduced in March 2016, according to police. New research has found 16 per cent of drivers on average breached the rules and came dangerously close, and in certain conditions up to 35 per cent of drivers breached the rules.

And the consequences for ignoring the laws and trying to squeeze past riders are huge. So far this year, two riders have died on NSW roads. There were seven deaths last year, and riders represent 15 per cent of road injuries, despite only comprising 3 per cent of road users. So what are the solutions? How can we better protect riders and calm the tensions between motorists and cyclists. We know it can be done, as experience from other countries shows. Cycling groups claim not enough has been done to educate the public about the road rules. There needs to be significant expenditure on a big campaign to raise awareness; of the rights of cyclists; of their vulnerability on the road; and of the potentially catastrophic consequences of reckless behaviour. And there are clearly issues with enforcement. Police are either unable or unwilling to prosecute reckless drivers who need to know they will be held accountable for their lack of action. There also needs to be more resources devoted to infrastructure. Separated bike lanes provide a safe haven for riders while also placating the extreme drivers who don't want to see two-wheeled chariots "clogging up the road".