The single largest government investment in cycling will include a hundred million pound package to support riders in England’s cities.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg this morning announced a package of measures to ‘bring cycling down from the Alps and onto British streets’ totalling over £214m.

As part of the commitment, £114m will secure funding for the Cycling Ambition Cities Programme over the next three years. Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Oxford will be supported to boost development of local cycle networks, improve safety for cyclists at junctions and traffic hotspots and help prevent accidents.

A £100m investment will also take place to improve roadside and crossing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists around the Strategic Road Network.

Clegg said he was ‘committed’ to help England become a ‘cycling nation’ similar to Denmark and the Netherlands, which are famed for their positive approach to cycling.

‘The rewards could be massive. Billions of pounds in savings for the NHS, less pollution and congestion, and a happier and safer population. In government, we’re putting the money down: now we need the public and local authorities to jump on their bikes and get us to the finish line,’ the deputy prime minister added.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: ‘Under this Government the Department for Transport has doubled the amount money available for cycling. We want all new roads cycle-proofed, making cycling safer and encouraging awareness on our roads. This additional funding is about further improving the thousands of short journeys made by bicycle every day.’