Australia's largest cycling advocacy body has called for laws to be relaxed so cyclists travelling on footpaths or bike paths don't have to wear helmets.

The Bicycle Network announced the recommendation after conducting a helmet policy review that began in August 2017, surveyed roughly 20,000 people and examined thousands of academic studies.

The Bicycle Network has called for mandatory helmet laws to be relaxed. Credit:Darrian Traynor

The review found almost 60 per cent of respondents called for a relaxation of the laws.

The network has recommended a five-year trial in which riders aged over 17 are allowed to choose whether or not to wear a helmet when they aren't riding on the road.