A NEW “cyclist hating” Facebook page has drawn the ire of a lobby group who fear it’s only a matter of time before online threats spill over from the keyboard and onto the roads.

Safe Cycling Australia Founder Dave Sharp wants police and Facebook to crack down on pages like ‘Brisbane and Cyclists,’ where people continuously post threats against cyclists, including allegedly condoning killing them if they did not get off the roads.

“There are people threatening to buy bull bars and to kill cyclists with the bull bars,” said Mr Sharp, 45, of Ipswich.

“There has been stalking of cyclists’ Facebook accounts — we have seen screen shots of personal pages put on that page. Someone has even threatened to shoot cyclists.”

The number of people following the ‘Brisbane and Cyclists’ page, which was created in February, has more than doubled to 4500 in the past few weeks.

media_camera Cyclists have expressed concerns about a new Facebook page called Brisbane and Cyclists.

Members regularly dub cyclists “road toads”, “peddling terrorists,” “pedalphiles,” members of the “Lycra-wearing latte set” and other derogatory terms.

The page also features photos and videos of cyclists holding up or slowing down cars by riding two abreast, or more, on everything from highways to difficult turns.

Most of the group members want cyclists to pay for registration and CTP insurance.

When a photo or video is uploaded, a number suggest running bike riders off the road or claim to have already done so.

“Just run the c---- off the road … I have (sic),” one person wrote. Another joined in with “Run the arrogant c---- over,” while another added “Run over all roadtoads!!!! (sic)”

The page administrator, James, who asked for anonymity, said he created the page about two months ago out of frustration, and to see if anyone else felt the same way.

Another page, ‘Aussies over cyclists’, he started this month has more than 6000 followers.

The 26-year-old plumber said he was sick of the close calls between his truck and cyclists. He gave the example of cyclists running red lights, knowing they could not be identified.

“They can’t get charged or reported for anything,” James said.

“They’re anonymous because of no registration plates. I’m not even saying they should pay heaps of registration, just something.

“That’s one of the many issues — if a motorcycle did the same thing they’d get charged.”

James said groups of up to 50 cyclists also packed out some suburbs around school drop-off time or go under the posted speed limit on roads with no bike lanes.

“And they ride two, three and four abreast,” he said.

“I’m not saying all cyclists … and there’s enough of a problem with cars and bad drivers, but you need a car to get to the city and back if you live more than 50km away or you’re a tradie.”

An online petition he started has attracted about 265 signatures.

On it he wrote: “Brisbane road users are fed up with the amount of near-misses and accidents caused by ignorant cyclists. The only option we have left to minimise these tragedies is to now come together and remove them off the roads altogether.”

He said removing cyclists from dense city traffic, at least, would be ideal.

“This will be safer for everyone (including cyclists),” he wrote.

In Queensland, all motorists driving in the same direction as a bicycle must stay one metre away when passing in a 60km/h or less zone, and 1.5 metres when the speed limit is above that.

media_camera Motorists and cyclists share the road on The Corso at Fairfield, in Brisbane’s inner-south. File picture

In response to a video published to the group of two “peddling terrorists” being pushed off a Central Queensland highway and nearly hit by road trains, James wrote that if cyclists could not stay on footpaths then they should give the ride a miss.

“These road toads have never heard of common sense,” he wrote.

“Everyone should be interested in helping each other out to save lives!”

Many comments under the video called for cyclists to have to pay registration fees or to go to bike tracks.

“I tell ya, if I was driving one of those trucks doing the speed limit, I would give these (expletive) their 1.5m no worries but if there was suddenly another rig coming in an opposite way I don’t think I’d I’ll be hitting the head on and no way my tons will stop for a couple of fluffy push bikers ... (sic),”” one person wrote under the video. “Now you tell me who is endangering who in this video and believe me it’s not the hard working truckers.”

A few cyclists weighed in to try and calm the discussion, including one who pointed out the cyclists were riding legally.

“Maybe considered facts and statistics directed to lawmakers about the quantity of accidents cyclists cause compared to the number of accidents drivers cause would get more traction than this little hate group,” he said.

The founder of Facebook group Aussie Cyclists Exposing Dumb and Dangerous Driving said he agreed there were both inconsiderate drivers and riders, but the Brisbane and Cyclists page was the “worst cycling-hate page” he had come across.

media_camera Cyclists say they fear violence will spill from the keyboard on to the road as a result of the Brisbane and Cycylists Facebook page. File picture

“It scrapes the bottom of the barrel and even condones death on people,” he said.

He recently moved to Queensland from Victoria and said cycling in this state was much safer thanks to the bicycle laws.

The 43-year-old used to wear a camera but has not felt the need in Queensland.

“I call them coroner’s cameras,” he said. “The majority of the time you hear of someone being taken out by a car or a driver and they take off. Very rarely will they stay.”

Mr Sharp said Safe Cycling Australia received an increase in complaints from cyclists about motorists not keeping a safe distance every time an online hate page appeared.

“The people who post threats are the people who would take their frustration out on other motorists as well,” he said.

“We saw it last week in New South Wales when a motorcyclist was convicted of manslaughter by targeting and killing a cyclist.”

Ben Smith, 27, was convicted of manslaughter of cyclist Steve Jarvie in the NSW District Court on May 13.

A jury found Mr Smith sped past Mr Jarvie on his motorbike, causing the 61-year-old to fall, and left him on the ground to die on the Old Pacific Highway at Cowan.

A Facebook post written by Mr Smith that showed hostility towards cyclists was taken into account during the trial.

Mr Sharp said some Brisbane cyclists had expressed concern for their safety since the Brisbane and Cyclists page was created.

He said the page had been reported to Facebook but so far it had not been found to be in violation of the social media site’s terms and conditions.

“Unfortunately with Facebook and the police refusing to do anything about it, these people feel free to come onto these sites and act with impunity,” he said.

A Queensland police spokesman said complaints of threats or harassment online could be investigated.

“If there is sufficient evidence of offences being committed, appropriate action can be taken against the individuals, the page or its administrators,” he said.

“All road users have a responsibility when using the road to obey the law and work together to create a safe environment for all.”

The spokesman said anyone who felt they were being threatened or intimidated should ring Policelink on 131444.