AS PART of National Road Safety Week road safety experts are calling on the community to pledge to drive so others survive.
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With this in mind there is a special focus on cyclists and motorcyclists, who are the most vulnerable road users in the community.
On average, nearly 40 bicycle riders are killed in Australia each year. Most are men and over the age of 45.
Motor vehicles are involved in about a quarter of on-road bicycle crashes.
As part of the road safety week educational campaign, drivers are reminded cyclists hold the same rights on the road as they do, yet are physically far more vulnerable.
In NSW, the law states that vehicles must remain at least a metre away from bicycles on the road, and 1.5 metres away wherever the speed limit exceeds 60 km/h.
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Local cyclist and advocate for cyclist safety, Dr Wendy Hastings, is part of Bathurst Cycle Safe group, which began working with council earlier this year, looking at both short and long term goals to make the city safer as a cyclist destination.
The group have met with council and taken Jess Jennings on a ride, highlighting some of the safety issues faced by cyclists in the city.
While the project is relatively new, she said council had been very supportive.
Among some of the more economical, short term goals include the installation of cycle friendly signs on cycle loops, identifying dangerous areas in town and working with council and the RMS about what can be done to fix it.
Another idea is painting cycle lanes on the road surface, which not only provides an area for cyclists, it also serves as a reminder to motorists to keep an eye out for cyclists on the road.
"Cyclist friendly paint line reminds drivers to pay attention, that a cyclist could be there," Dr Hastings said.
She said the group is working at, first and foremost, to make roads safer for all categories of users
Dr Hastings said education is a key factor in improving road safety for cyclists. She said one of the biggest issues faced by cyclists is drivers failing to leave adequate room between their bike and a car.
She said the mandatory space (which is at least one metre on the road, or 1.5m once the speed limit exceeds 60km) is there to keep riders safe.
"If you hit a bump in the road or I do, and you're forced to take evasive action, who comes out worse?"