British Cycling has unveiled a new four-year strategy designed to create a lasting legacy for cycling as a sport and recreational activity in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The national governing body also aims to develop the success that UK cyclists have enjoyed at major international events, including the Tour de France and the Beijing 2008 Olympics, to help establish Britain as one of the world's leading cycling nations. Among the objectives of the Whole Sport Plan for 2009-13 are plans to bring all types of cycling, including BMX, road and mountain biking, under one British Cycling umbrella, while also increasing the number of people participating in cycling as a sport.

British Cycling also intends to work with the government to develop cycling as a sustainable mode of transport, including plans to develop a legal framework that will enable people to use public highways for informal participation and competitions. Ian Drake, British Cycling chief executive, said: "We have a once in a lifetime opportunity in the run up to London 2012 to really engage Britain with cycling and turn our 'medal success' into a 'people success' by inspiring mass participation in our sport.

"The scale of the task we have set ourselves at home is comparable to the challenge of going for gold in the Olympics but now is the time to act as we have never been in a better position to use elite success to grow cycle sport in the UK." Olympic gold medallist, Sir Chris Hoy, added: "There has definitely been a renewed interest in the sport and in cycling in general since the Beijing Olympics, and it's great that British Cycling is now in a position to do so much more to grow participation at a grass roots level."