Teenagers up to the age of 16 will be able to ride their bicycles on footpaths under a NSW Government change to the Road Transport Act.
Previously, children had to start riding on the road at the age of 12, although adults accompanying children were exempt.
The change has been welcomed by Bicycle NSW, but the cycling advocacy group said it was disappointing the Government had not agreed to people of any age being allowed to share footpaths with pedestrians.
"Bicycle NSW sees cycling on the footpath as a bridge to proper cycling infrastructure," Chief Executive Alistair Ferguson said.
He said in the city of Sydney, which has been building separate cycle paths, there had been a big increase in people riding.
Mr Ferguson acknowledged more people sharing footpaths was not without its problems.
"There's always going to be those dangers to pedestrians," he said.
"There'll have to be a transition period, alongside an awareness campaign [for cyclists]."
Liberal Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, has also been campaigning for change.
Mr Notley-Smith declined to comment today, but in a video on social media said: "The busy traffic of a congested city is no place for a child to ride their bike."
In May he introduced a motion to Parliament stating "numerous studies have concluded that parents would be much more willing to allow their children to cycle if they were permitted to ride on the footpath".
It added: "Statistical evidence compiled in other Australian states and overseas dispels beliefs or perceptions that pedestrians are at a significantly greater risk of injury from bicycle/pedestrian collisions if minors are permitted to ride on footpaths."
Mr Notley-Smith wanted the age increased to cyclists under 18 years.
