RAHUL SHARMA DEBT CONNECT IN MANCHESTER, UK,
A government scheme offering £50 bike repair vouchers will launch in England on Tuesday as part of plans to boost cycling and walking.
An initial 50,000 vouchers will be made available online later in the day on a first-come, first-served basis.
The prime minister also announced that access to bikes will be available on the NHS as part of the strategy.
But Labour said many of the government's proposals were taking too long to come into effect.
It comes after the government launched its obesity strategy on Monday.
GPs in areas of England with poor health will be encouraged to prescribe cycling, with patients able to access bikes through their local surgery.
The idea is that GP surgeries will have a stock of bicycles to lend, with training, access to cycling groups and peer support.
In some cases, if they used them enough, patients would be allowed to keep them.
Recent Public Health England research found that being overweight or obese puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19.
Government statistics showed nearly 8% of critically ill patients in intensive care units with the virus have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said cycling and walking have "a huge role to play" in tackling health and environmental challenges.
"But to build a healthier, more active nation, we need the right infrastructure, training and support in place to give people the confidence to travel on two wheels," he said.
"That's why now is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel - so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling."
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