Mr Stewart said many drivers were still not seeing cyclists on the road. It was the fourth accident he had attended in the past three years in the region in which a driver had not seen a cyclist.
The cyclist was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital yesterday and later discharged.
The car's driver was shaken up by the accident, Mr Stewart said. Fortunately, the car had just started to move off, so was not travelling fast when it collided with the rider.
The accident brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill on Clive's main road. Nearby workers watched as traffic backed up for about 30 minutes. To ease the heavy traffic flow, a detour was created down Williamson Rd.
BP supervisor Amber Benny said the woman, who was wearing a bright top, was treated by a doctor from the nearby medical centre while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Cycling Advocates Network spokesman Patrick Morgan said cyclists needed to make sure they were well lit as the dark winter evenings approached.
"Lights, reflectors and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see," Mr Morgan said.
"Cyclists need to check their lights and batteries.
"Our message to cyclists is to get out there and enjoy the ride, and to remember to use lights whenever visibility is poor. For drivers, the message is to look twice for people on bikes," Mr Morgan said.
After cycling many kilometres on Bay roads, Police Inspector Dean Clifford knows they will never be completely safe for the growing number of people taking to cycling.
But the same goes for all traffic, he said.
"Roads are inherently risky. Risky for vehicles, risky for cyclists, risky for pedestrians.
"The Hastings and Napier city councils had to be congratulated for its safe cycling strategy, but cyclists still have the responsibility of keeping themselves safe," he said.