Julian Hunt, Sustrans information and trading manager, said: "Encouraging and enabling people to travel by bike is vital in terms of tackling climate change and rising levels of obesity. However, with more than 1,200 bikes stolen every day people may not feel comfortable leaving their bikes locked up when they pedal to the shops, work or school.”

Many of the bridges on more rural networks need the funding to avoid falling into disrepair and additional maintenance to pathways, including the addition of more lighting or possibly traffic-free routes, subject to planning permission, will increase safety on the network. It is hoped that this will reduce the need for claims, making it a worthwhile investment for both parties.

Dedicated cyclists are those that are often at most risk from theft and damage because they tend to invest in bikes that are more expensive and generally more desirable to thieves. Brands such as Cannondale, Scott and Carrera can cost up-to £2,000 and are often stolen to order by criminal gangs. More risk focused users, such as Mountain Bikers, BMX riders or even unicyclists are encouraged to look at taking out an all-risks policy that covers accident damage.

Mr Hunt continued: “We're delighted to be working in partnership with Butterworth Insurance Services to offer cyclists peace of mind that their wheels are covered against theft, and that they are helping Sustrans make our environment safer and more attractive for cyclists."

The government desperately wants to get more cyclists on our roads, with Britain lagging behind Europe when it comes to cycle use. We feature 12th of 15 European nations surveyed and despite £47m announced earlier this month to invest in new “cycle towns”, many more local routes will go neglected without further investment. This campaign aims to take the risk out of cycling and make it more appealing for more users.