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@carls*world wrote:

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 There was however, a purpose built bike path, running paralllel to the road, and when asked why didn't he use that to be safe, his reply was that he didn't HAVE to, that he was allowed on the road.

 

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The problem with many bike path, at least here in Melbourne, is that they were built with little or no consultation with the people who would be using them.  Most are all but useless.  They are too narrow, too rough and in many places have low branches over hanging.  Our lovely off the leash park, which is very narrow but about 1km long, sandwiched between back fences of houses on one side, and factory fences on the other, used to be good safe place to let dogs run free.  Now there is a bike path that is used by very fast bicycles.  It is only a matter of time before a dog will dart across the path and both the rider and dog are in danger of serious injury.  i wonder if the riders are at all aware of the fact that they are in off the leash park.  The path is now connected to others and goes some 20 km (if not more) in the northern direction, and who knows how far south. 

With continuing increase of bike riders on our roads, I do agree, that there must be changes to regulations.  I do not believe in registration  for bikes, but licenses for riders, which would have to be displayed somehow, would be a good idea.  That way if rider does behave badly, he/she could be reported.  I also believe that if there is a good bike path it should be illegal to ride on the road.   It should be illegal to ride abreast on roads with only one lane = on roads where cars are unable to overtake without going on the wrong side of the road.  I think these are just common sense rules, and sadly if people cannot act in common sense then rules must be made into regulations.  Which brings me back to the OP, it should be also common sense not to drive any closer than 1m from a cyclist.