The £2 million ($2.78 million/€2.35 million) funding has been awarded as part of Birmingham 2022’s Active Travel Legacy Package, and will target the West Midlands’ most disadvantaged areas to encourage more people to cycle as a healthy, environmentally-friendly and affordable mode of transport.

The Cycling for Everyone programme plans to tackle barriers which currently prevent people from cycling, providing training, free or subsidised pedal cycles and community hubs among other initiatives.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, believes the region will feel the rewards of the funding.

"I’m delighted that we have been able to secure more cash from the Government to help promote cycling across the West Midlands," he said.

"We know that cycling is great for people’s physical health and of course for reducing air pollution as we tackle the climate emergency, that’s why we are already putting unprecedented investment into cycling and walking - from the Starley Network of safe cycle routes to the West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme we launched earlier this year.

"Now, with this further investment from the Government for Cycling for Everyone, we can target key areas and provide communities who wouldn’t usually get the chance to reap the benefits that cycling offers."

Cllr Ian Ward, the leader of Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) portfolio holder for transport, is also excited to see the Cycling for Everyone programme come to fruition.

"When Birmingham was awarded the Commonwealth Games, we wanted to ensure it would have a positive impact on all communities," said Ward.

"This is even more important now as we emerge from the pandemic which has hit some communities harder than others.

"Cycling for Everyone is one example of how we can do that by getting people involved who may not otherwise be able to cycle - either due to the cost or because they have no one around to support and guide them."

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is part of the WMCA, and will collaborate with partners to work on Cycling for Everyone projects.

The #WM2041 campaign is targeting net-zero carbon emissions in the West Midlands within 20 years, and TfWM and its partners are investing £40 million ($55.76 million/€47.06 million) on schemes such as safe cycle routes and a cycle hire scheme to promote active travel.

Birmingham 2022 has a broader aim for its physical activity and wellbeing legacy, seeking to promote walking and cycling and focus on improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing, particularly in the most inactive and underrepresented groups.

The Commonwealth Games recently celebrated one year to go before the scheduled start of the event, which is set to run from July 28 to August 8 2022.