Why is it always the cyclists who are to blame? As I ride into town on a regular basis on a weekend morning, I ride on the road most of the time as I believe it is safer than on the shared areas. What I notice quite regularly is walkers, in the middle of the path, walking 3 or 4 abreast not helping the flow either way with walkers and cyclists alike having to verge onto the grass. I think a bit more common courtesy both ways wouldn't go astray.

What about an open day on cyclists once a month. A bounty of $5 per rider you knock down with your car, capped at a 100. That should keep them off the roads!

Terminator has the right idea ... but the wrong target. The place for cyclists is on the road, and the main obstacle is ignorant motorists who shoot themselves in the foot on parking congestion by making it dangerous to cycle. But as terminator suggests, nothing motivates like money ... confiscate the cars of the worst derelict drivers and auction them off, with the proceeds divided between the cyclist they threaten and establishing gateway parking in the massive area to the east of Hamilton Station.

I am currently a temporary resident of Perth but my heart is still in the Hunter so I read the Herald online. It appears to me that cyclists are the same all over Australia. Cycling to and from work is very popular in Perth. Cyclists ride on shared paths and some are a true menace. They cylcle so fast that if a child or elderley person was to inadvertently walk out into their path they would be collected by the cyclist. Ringing a bell is all very good but do they consider the deaf or hard of hearing when they refuse to slow down and rely purely on their bell or yelling to clear the path.

If the place for cyclists is on the road there should be lanes for them, tests, licences, roadwothy checks ,regos and all the cost and rules associated with driving privileges on the road. Why be excluded from this is you are having the luxury of being on the road. Should vehicle drivers have a reduction in costs for allowing cyclists to "share" the road ? Would bike riders come to the party if the cost was up to $500 plus like the car drivers pay from L's thru P's (red & green) and on to black-an annual fee. Why discriminate? If not -keep off the roads!