The number of fines handed to cyclists in NSW surged by more than a third in the first year of stiffer penalties, which led to the state government collecting more than $2.2 million in revenue from the top-five offences.

Almost two-thirds of the 9760 infringement notices issued in the 12 months after the new laws were introduced were for failing to wear helmets, the fine for which quadrupled to $319 on March 1 last year.

It resulted in $1.99 million flowing into government coffers from people caught cycling without helmets in the first year of the higher penalties, compared with about $337,000 in the same period a year earlier.

In contrast, the penalties copped by motorists for failing to pass cyclists at a safe distance was 17 for the year – up from 10 in the prior period.