Pedestrians who are injured by cyclists can initiate civil action against them, make an insurance claim, go for mediation or settle privately, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said in Parliament on Tuesday.

"In general, these avenues provide adequate means for persons who suffer injury in such accidents to claim compensation," he added.

There was an average of 10 reported accidents between cyclists and pedestrians each year from 2011 to 2013, he said, most of which took place along pedestrian pathways and crossings.

But Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), to whom Mr Masagos was replying, pointed out that the actual number of accidents was likely to be much higher.

In a back-and-forth with Mr Masagos, Ms Lee suggested that the law be reviewed so errant cyclists could be prosecuted without a civil suit, and that insurance be made compulsory for cyclists so that those injured by them could make claims.

Mr Masagos noted that civil suits are for claiming damages, whereas prosecution has to do with the criminality of the act itself.

Errant cyclists are charged under various acts, but this is separate from the compensation pedestrains can receive, he said. As for the insurance of cyclists, that is under the purview of the Land Transport Authority, he added.