Thousands of miles of new cycle routes will be built in towns and cities as part of the Prime Minister’s £2bn ‘cycling and walking revolution’.

Under the new measures, more cycle racks will also be installed at transport hubs, city centres and public buildings. More on-street storage and bike hangers will be provided for those people who don’t have space to keep a bike at home.

The Government will also empower local authorities to crack down on traffic offences and will consult to increase metro mayors’ powers over key road networks.

Local authorities will also be involved in providing cycle training for every child and adult who wants it.

Cllr David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: ‘It is councils who know their local areas best, so they should be given the freedom to work with their local communities to get on with planning active travel infrastructure such as cycling schemes.

’It is also right that all councils will be able to enforce moving traffic offences. This is something that the LGA has long called for as it is already improving road networks in areas where this is in place, so we are pleased this can now be rolled out nationwide.’

Darren Shirley, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Good quality infrastructure, that integrates with other forms of public transport, will help to lock in the changes we’ve begun to see to travel patterns in recent months and ensure sustainable options are more widely available.

'Empowering local authorities to deliver improvements to local cycling and walking facilities by providing the support they need to build capacity and capability is key to delivering the Government’s vision, so we are pleased to see this acknowledged within the plans.’