The government is to provide a £12.5m support package designed to provide cycle training for 500,000 additional schoolchildren by 2012.

The funding - part of the government's £140m cycling budget over three years - will be provided to local authorities, the government's cycling demonstration towns, youth sport trust, school sports partnerships and cycle trainers. The move is part of the government's 'Active Travel Strategy', which plans on putting walking and cycling at the heart of local transport and public health strategies over the next 10 years.

Other aims include every major public sector employer signing up to the Cycle to Work guarantee, cycle parking at or within easy reach of every public building, sufficient secure bike parking at every railway station, and local authorities introducing 20mph zones and limits into more residential streets to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Transport minister Sadiq Khan said: "Active travel means a transport system where walking and cycling become the norm. Instead of automatically reaching for their car keys, I want to see people feeling confident enough to jump on their bike or pull on a pair of trainers."

Public health minister Gillian Merron said: "Walking and cycling are two of the easiest ways for people to build regular physical activity into their daily lives, whether it's riding to work, walking to school or simply having fun. We believe this strategy demonstrates that even making small changes can bring about significant health benefits."