The NSW Roads Minister wants a licensing system introduced for cyclists to crack down on those who break the law, despite his department previously believing it ineffective.

According to a Fairfax report, NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said in May that he was persuaded by the idea of a licensing scheme for bikes, following a series of cyclist fatalities.

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“It’s not going to worry the ones that are doing the right thing, but the bad ones that are running lights, crossing over, being aggressive, they’re a large part of the statistic,” Mr Gay told Fairfax.

But documents obtained using freedom of information laws show that Mr Gay’s department previously believed that licensing for bikes would be ineffective.

It is estimated that to cover the cost of the system, bike licenses could cost between $21 and $76 per cyclist per year, imposing a burden on children and low-income families.

Writing on the minister’s behalf in 2011, Mr Gay’s former chief executive Michael Bushby said that the financial burden from cycling licensing would be substantial.

Another document obtained by Fairfax shows that licensing would be difficult with children a high proportion of cyclists.

“Requiring minors to be formally licensed before being allowed to ride on a public road in NSW would be without precedent,” says the briefing note.