Three quarters of the public want the government to invest more in making cycling safer, according to a new report from cycling charity Sustrans.

Bike Life – the biggest survey ever conducted on attitudes to cycling in the UK – questioned 11,000 people across the UK. It found that the average respondent wants £26 per person to be spent on cycling annually, as part of the £300 per person currently spent on transport. The current amount spent in England is just £4 per person.

The survey also found that the sentiment was shared by cyclists and non-cyclists alike. 71 per cent of those who said that they never used a bike still backed an increase, rising to 87 per cent among those frequently riding a bike.

“People want governments to spend more, and say that they would cycle more if it were safer. Now governments must close this gap between current spending and public demand,” said Jason Torrance, policy director at Sustrans.

“Physical inactivity, congestion and declining air quality cost our economy billions. Governments must act to secure a greater share of current transport investment for cycling and walking.”

Active design has been a hot topic in recent months, especially in light of new research which found cities which strive to promote physical activity gain a significant economic advantage. Meanwhile, another Sustrans report found that the UK’s National Cycle Network has saved the economy more than £7bn since it was established 20 years ago.