PARENTS were told to ditch their people carriers and get their children to cycle to school at the launch of a multi-million pound initiative this week.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander laid out plans for a new cycle to school initiative as parents were dropping their children off at the gates at Oxford Community School, Glanville Road in East Oxford.

The scheme hopes to get 100,000 extra children across the country out of the car and on their bicycles after taking their cycling proficiency test.

Oxford Community School recently unveiled a £100,000 cycle route to the school and estimates only 15 per cent of its pupils do not arrive by foot, bike or public transport.

The £100,000 cycle route was funded by Oxfordshire County Council and the Government.

The transport secretary announced that a large slice of the £15m will be spent over three years to build 10,000 miles of school cycling routes nationwide.

Some of the £15m money will also be spent on a new cycling proficiency test training up to 100,000 pupils, the first time a new exam has been devised in 30 years.

Mr Alexander was in Oxford to address a transport and climate-change conference, speaking on greener travel to academics at St Catherine's College.

Government research has shown across the country one in every five cars are estimated to be on the school run during the morning rush hour.