Parents are to be asked to shake off their fears about letting their children cycle to school and actively encourage them to do so.

A Scottish Executive initiative claims primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them.

A major national advertising campaign will try to encourage parents to stop driving their children to school.

Despite the fact 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of cycle training offered in the majority of primary schools.

In Scotland, cycling is the first choice of physical activity for girls between eight and 15 and second for boys behind football. Unlike most sports, people who cycle during their childhood are more likely to continue into adulthood.

European statistics show countries with the highest cycle use also have the lowest obesity figures. Current figures suggest one in four Scots are at risk of dying early from diseases related to inactivity, yet only 2% of journeys are by bicycle.

Cycling Scotland, which is core funded by the Scottish Executive, believes parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance. It says cycling to school, after appropriate training, helps children develop road sense, assess risk and think for themselves.

Jim Riach, education and training manager at Cycling Scotland, admitted there were "challenges" to be overcome in changing attitudes.

He said he could understand the reluctance of parents to let children as young as 10 cycle on their own to school, particularly in cities and towns.

"Getting kids out and about on their bikes more is crucial to safeguard the future health of our nation," said Mr Riach. "More than this, we believe it is an essential part of childhood. I'm sure most adults have very fond memories of their first bike and the sense of freedom and adventure that came with it.

"It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads. The cycle training available in primary schools helps children not only to cycle more confidently but also to develop road sense that will serve them as pedestrians and as future road users."

Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, is supporting the campaign and is working with the Scottish Executive, providing information, training and advice, to make sure children can get to school safely and keep their bikes safe at school. It is also providing funding for cycle parking at schools and developing more safe routes.

Community Can Cycle, the Castlemilk-based bike and can recycling initiative, said it welcomed the plan to get more children cycling to school.

Jim O'Donnell of the project, which provides free bike repairs for low-income families, said: "We will be having an education centre in place to which children from all over Glasgow will come to learn about the benefits of cycling. Any attempt to encourage children to cycle to school has to be welcomed."