Last year across Australia 48 cyclists were killed, which is the highest number of bicycle rider deaths since 1997.

In NSW alone the number of cyclists killed in collisions more than doubled since 2012, with 14 deaths recorded in NSW for 2013. Also every year more than 9500 cyclists are seriously injured.

Cyclists are calling for the Australian road rules to be amended so that drivers must allow a minimum of one metre when overtaking bicycle riders in speed zones up to 60 km/h, and also that drivers allow a minimum of 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists in speed zones over 60kph.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council general manager Chris Berry, himself a keen cyclist, says whilst he wouldn’t necessarily sign a petition, he would support any measure to improve the relationship between cyclists and motorists on our roads.

“We need to understand that in rural areas such as Goulburn some of our roads are quite narrow, and we need to be patient before overtaking safely, otherwise the driver can end up on the wrong side of the road,” Mr Berry said.

“By law, cyclists are actually allowed to ride two-abreast, and we need to treat them just like we would any other motorist.

“I would actually go further than a petition and say that there needs to be a better education program for our learner drivers to learn the appropriate road rules when it comes to cyclists and then act accordingly.”

Mr Berry says he is keen to work with his Road Safety staff for this education program to be implemented as part of the council’s Road Safety Strategy.

“I am always talking with Tracey Norberg, our Road Safety Officer about ways we can improve the Road Safety framework to include cyclists,” he said.

“Hopefully we can introduce these measures into the framework in the near future.”

Goulburn Cycle Club coach Graeme Northey says the one metre rule is something that has been discussed for a long time, and that the rule is actually law in a few countries such as the UK and in Europe.

“Both cyclists and motorists obviously have responsibilities to respect each others’ rights on the road,” he said.

“A metre isn’t much in the scheme of things, but it is better than what we currently have. I have heard of a few isolated incidences where some car drivers and a couple of truck drivers have come within less than one metre of cyclists and it has caused a very dangerous situation to arise.”

Current NSW RTA guidelines state: ‘If you are overtaking a bicycle rider, give them at least one metre of space to the side in a 50km/h zone. If the speed limit is higher, you need to give the cyclist more space.’ In a letter addressed to Roads Minister Duncan Gay by Safe Cycling Australia, an answer was given by Mr Gay stating this: “The NSW Police Force has advised me that there is no requirement under the Road Rules 2008 for a driver to change lanes when passing a cyclist.

“Hence failing to change lanes in these circumstances is not an offence and is not enforced by police.”

Greens MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker stated in May 2013 that NSW is the most dangerous state to be a cyclist, with an average of 11 deaths per year for the past decade, constituting 30 percent of the country’s total fatalities.

“The Australian road rules are failing bicycle riders and we must act urgently to save lives,” he stated.

“I am appealing to the government and opposition to support this crucial and practical reform. Bicycle riders are particularly vulnerable and need to be protected.”

 ■To sign the petition, go to the Amy Gillett Foundation website at www.amygillett.org.au/ametremat terspetition, and click on the ‘Sign the petition now’ button