Former Olympic champion Chris Boardman, who won gold in the velodrome at the 1992 Games and raced in the Tour de France, has been named as the head of Active Travel England.
As well as bike paths on main roads, Active Travel England will set out standards for schemes intended to reverse the increasing dominance of motor traffic on smaller roads.
“Walking and cycling is the foundation of any sustainable transport system. You can encourage people to change all you like, but when it still takes bravery to cross a street, then people are going to drive,” he said.