The fine for not wearing a helmet has risen from $71 to $319, and the penalties for running a red light, riding dangerously and not stopping at pedestrian crossings have increased from $71 to $425.

Other offences, including not having a bell or riding at night without lights, will also rise from $71 to $106.

Cyclists will not be required to carry photo identification until March 2017.

The laws are part of the NSW Government’s Go Together campaign.

Sarah Ladyman, who rides her bike to Newcastle from Dudley up to five times a week, said if the fines for cyclists were being increased to be on par with driving infringements, then cycling infrastructure should also be on par with roads.

“It should be as easy to cycle safely as it is to drive,” she said.

“I’m lucky enough to live on the Fernleigh Track, which means I can cycle most of my daily commute into town, but there are a lot of places I can’t get to on my bike.

“I’m confident enough to ride on the road, but there are a lot of people I know who aren’t comfortable. This would change if there were more cycleways.”

Ms Ladyman is a member of the CycleSafe Network Committee. They are lobbying the state government to invest $100 million in a 160-kilometre shared path system across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

She said if Newcastle had more safe cycleways, more people would be willing and able to ride safely.

“At the end of the day, increasing fines doesn’t make me safer. Better infrastructure will,” she said.

NSW drivers will also be affected by new laws from March 1.

Drivers must leave at least one metre of space when passing a cyclist in speed zones of 60km/h or less, and leave at least 1.5 metres in higher speed zones.

Those caught not allowing the minimum distance when passing a bicycle rider will face a $319 fine and lose two demerit points.

Queensland has been trialling the passing laws since April 2014, and similar measures were recently implemented in the ACT and South Australia. Tasmania also amended its road rules about a year ago to allow the safer passing of cyclists.

The Go Together campaign’s website says that on average, 11 bicycle riders are killed and 1500 seriously injured in NSW each year.

Bicycle NSW chief executive Ray Rice said the new minimum passing distance laws helped protect cyclists, and gave drivers some certainty in the distance they should leave when overtaking riders.

“That is a positive safety measure,” he said.

“But they’ve also made the bicycle fine equivalent to the car fine, and we don’t think that reflects the consequence of the offence.

“We think they should be trying education rather than fines.”