Transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced a series of plans to increase cycling and walking and to ensure less public transport usage for when lockdown restrictions ease.

A £2billion care package has been set to increase cycling and walking by making it safer with pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements and safer junctions.

Local authorities in England will be encouraged to start immediate changes and reallocate roadspace for an increase of cyclists and pedestrians.

Vouchers will be issued for cycle repairs and it said there are plans for greater provision of bike fixing facilities.

Mr Shapps said that moving beyond Covid-19 will be a “gradual process” and the need to maintain social distancing means that public transporting cannot revert back to its full service.

He said a national cycling plan will be published in early June to help double cycling and increase walking by 2025.

The transport secretary explained that since the lockdown was in place, there has already been a seventy per cent rise in the use of bikes.

The legalisation of e-scooter trials will be fast tracked to next month to provide another form of alternative transport measures.

This will include new e-scooter rental schemes that is said to be set in some regions as early as June.

The trial will be extended from four local authorities to "every region in the country who wants them".

Mr Shapps said: "Otherwise, with public transport’s capacity severely restricted at this time, our trains and buses could become overcrowded and our roads gridlocked – holding up emergency services, critical workers and vital supplies."

An updated cycling and walking investment strategy will be launched by the Prime Minister in the summer.

However, the transport secretary explained that cars will remain “an absolutely vital form” of transport.

In the daily Downing Street update, it was announced there would be an additional £10million funding for more electric car charging points on streets around the UK.

The government have pledged to accelerate the filling of potholes and there will be a further series of announcements and investments to roads and rail.

Mr Shapps concluded his announcement by urging for people to only travel when they need to.