City cycle eye-opener for top cop

A senior police officer who donned lycra and hit city streets to understand the plight of Perth cyclists has pleaded with drivers to be more tolerant of "vulnerable" road users.

Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich had cameras fixed to his helmet and handlebars during a mid-afternoon bike ride through the CBD last week.

It came as police statistics revealed 19 cyclists died on WA roads in the past five years. Ano-ther 53 were seriously injured.

"I had cars turn in front of me," Mr Anticich said. "It's a common fault I've seen before where drivers often underestimate the speed of cyclists."

Mr Anticich said laws requiring motorists give cyclists space had been flagged but he was more interested in encouraging "tolerance and patience".

"Let's educate, let drivers understand what cyclists see and similarly let cyclists understand that their behaviours on the road need to be within the law," he said.