The government will invest £140m in cycling in an attempt to help half a million children cycle safely and a generation of adults rediscover their bikes.

The drive to boost cycling aims to create more opportunities for exercise as well as tackle road congestion and improve air quality.

The money will be invested over the next three years and forms part of the government's forthcoming strategy to tackle obesity.

The six-fold increase in funding will allow an extra 500,000 10 year-olds across England to take part in Bikeability cycle training by 2012, equipping them to cycle safely and responsibly and build another 250 Safe Links to Schools, connecting around 500 more schools to the National Cycle Network.

It will also create up to a further 10 Cycling Demonstration Towns in England, as well as the first large Demonstration City. This will mean nearly 3m people will have the chance to benefit from best practice and promotion of cycling.

Ruth Kelly, transport minister, said: "Cycling brings many benefits, both for the individual in terms of health and fitness and for the local community as it helps tackle congestion and improve local air quality.

"The results of both Bikeability and Cycle Demonstration Towns are hugely impressive and prove that by providing the right facilities and support more people are willing to get on their bikes.”

Health secretary Alan Johnson said: "This commitment to promoting active travel will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of children and young people across the country.

"We know that children and young people need to be moderately active for at least an hour every day. While schools are successfully increasing the amount of sport and other physical activities pupils take part in, it is essential that young people do more beyond the school gates.

“Cycling or walking to and from school is an excellent way to keep active as well as helping to install a culture of exercise for adult life."

The funding package will go to Cycling England, the body set up by Government to promote cycling.