The NSW Government is considering mandatory insurance for cyclists, along with other proposals to improve road safety.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay says Transport for NSW has held talks with key road safety stakeholders and cycling groups on the options being considered.

“The NSW Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users, including cyclists,” Mr Gay said in Parliament.

“The cycling safety roundtable considered issues including minimum passing distance… and insurance.”

A Bicycle Crash Compensation Working Group, led by the Motor Accidents Insurance Regulator, has been established, according to the Centre for Road Safety.

“This working group is reviewing the existing arrangements for pedestrian and cyclist compensation related to injuries in bicycle crashes,” the centre’s Acting Executive Director Bernard Carlon told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “The group will report back to Government by the end of the year.”

Concerns over accidents involving cyclists are growing after high-profile cases that have left victims with costly medical bills.

In one case, a Sydney nurse incurred medical fees of $15,000 after being knocked unconscious by a cyclist who had no public liability insurance.

Advocacy group Bicycle Network has hit out at the State Government’s “political agenda” against bike riders.

“The Government is looking at introducing excessive red tape, a huge bureaucratic burden for taxpayers and a disincentive to physical activity, to ‘address’ an issue that affects one person each year,” CEO Craig Richards said.

“Instead of building dedicated infrastructure to benefit the 250 cyclists who are seriously injured in NSW each year, the Government is focused on attacking riders and pushing a political agenda that assists nobody.”

The group says about 127 pedestrian casualties were caused by crashes involving bike riders from 2009-13, of which only seven were deemed hit-and-run cases.

The Pedestrian Council of Australia says it is virtually impossible to introduce compulsory third party insurance (CTP) for cyclists, due to an array of obstacles including the absence of mandatory licence registration.

“Without registration, there is no way of getting a cyclist to be required to pay for the insurance,” Chairman and CEO Harold Scruby told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“How do you identify the owner of the bike and ensure the bike is registered and insured?”

The Insurance Council of Australia says “extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including insurers” is required before any changes are made to CTP.