The State Government will push ahead with new rules to protect cyclists and combat a growing culture of aggression on the roads.

WA’s Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts said yesterday the Government would act on its pre-election commitment to require drivers to leave a gap of one metre when overtaking cyclists.

“We are committed to the trial of the one-metre rule,” Mrs Roberts said.

The West Australian spoke to many cyclists who said they had experienced verbal abuse, angry or careless drivers and in some cases physical attacks.

Subiaco triathlete Anthea Stacey said she was sprayed in the face with a lubricant spray during a ride recently.

Play Video Mt Hawthorn's Shakespeare Street is the envy of Australian cyclists. The West Australian Video Mt Hawthorn's Shakespeare Street is the envy of Australian cyclists.

The 23-year-old is terrified of riding alone and says negative interactions with drivers happen so often it has become the norm.

Other riders including Perth’s Rob Ramsden said drivers had swerved into them, or vehicles and bicycles had come close to colliding.

Westcycle chief executive Matt Fulton said he was not surprised by the accounts and that there was a growing trend of aggression on the roads.

“Australia has a societal problem that has escalated to the point where it is acceptable to treat other people with absolute disrespect the moment we are on the road,” Mr Fulton said.

“The amount of road rage and antisocial behaviour is evident on a daily basis regardless of the form of vehicle you are using.

Play Video A cyclist in Manchester, UK, took his anger out on a car windscreen The West Australian Video A cyclist in Manchester, UK, took his anger out on a car windscreen

“In the case of bike riders, this behaviour can have far more severe consequences due to their vulnerability. Riders have a greater vested interest in ensuring the problem is stamped out.”JU

WA has an estimated 600,000 people riding bikes on roads each week.

Three cyclists were killed on WA roads last year and a big number of incidents involving cars and bicycles were reported.

There is no evidence to suggest an increase in the number of incidents between cyclists and other road users, but a surge in technology has meant wider reporting of what was already occurring.

Peter Mah, president of Perth’s largest cycling club the South Perth Rouleurs, said drivers’ sense of entitlement put cyclists’ lives at risk.

Play Video Ben Jones has come up with a path cyclists can ride around Perth in the shape of a goat. The West Australian Video Ben Jones has come up with a path cyclists can ride around Perth in the shape of a goat.

“There is not really a war between cyclists and drivers, but what we are seeing is a general lack of mutual respect between all road users,” Mr Mah said.

“When I drive my car to work I see it between other car drivers, so what hope do cyclists have?

“There seems to be a sense of entitlement where people want to get from A to B and if you slow them down — whether cyclists, other cars or even traffic lights — they get frustrated.”

Mr Fulton said safe-passing legislation, where drivers needed to stay one metre from a cyclist when travelling up to 60km/h and 1.5m above 60km/h, would help keep cyclists safer on WA roads.

Before the State election, Labor promised to undertake a two-year trial.

The WA Liberal Party late last year spent $1 million on an education campaign on safe passing, arguing legislation would be too difficult to enforce.

The current WA law requires drivers to pass a safe distance from cyclists, but the distance is at the discretion of police.

A minimum passing distance rule is law in South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and is being tested in the ACT and NSW.

Labor also pledged to increase WA’s principal shared-path program to $20 million a year by 2019-20.

State Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the Government was “eager to support cyclists and increase investment in cycling infrastructure”.

“Our government stands by the commitments it made before the election to improve cycling infrastructure in WA,” she said.

“As part of our upcoming budget process, we will be funding these commitments.”

RAC general manager corporate affairs Will Golsby said WA needed greater investment in bicycle paths. An RAC survey in 2015 showed the main deterrent to people cycling more often was a fear of vehicles.