It has been revealed that ten major railway stations will have the chance to improve their bike facilities under government proposals, to create a network of ‘cycling hubs’ around Great Britain.

The new plan copies a scheme in the Netherlands, where cycling accounts for one in three of all trips to and from stations, compared with just 2% in Britain.

A £5 million fund will provide extra bike racks and repair shops in a bid to encourage rail passengers to cycle more.

The new safety equipment is also good news for riders with bike insurance, especially as a new study revealed it takes just 17 minutes for a bike to be stolen.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “There are still major rail stations such as Charing Cross in London that have no parking for cyclists so extra racks are welcome, but there are many other issues that need addressing such as rail operator intransience and inconsistency over when and how cycles can be carried onboard trains.”