The advocacy group used a submission to the budget process to argue the four-year funding of $12.5 million annually would assist the government to meet its stated goal of 6 per cent of all trips to work being completed by bike from next year, and 7 per cent by 2020.

Pedal Power ACT executive officer John Armstrong said the group's highest priority was the completion of the 3.2 kilometre Civic Cycle Loop, which connects central streets in the city through a loop, as well as linking some of Canberra's main cycling routes.

Currently planned works on the loop will create a horseshoe shape, rather than a completed route around the city, unless the southern end is formed in the area north of Parkes Way.

Mr Armstrong said the last section was expected to be built as part of the government's City to the Lake infrastructure plan, which has been delayed in part due to budget constraints from the Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos buyback scheme. If the work can't be completed, Pedal Power will propose alternative solutions for safe cycling access between Marcus Clarke and Allara streets.

Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr will hand down the latest territory budget on June 2. He is facing a $770 million deficit this year, and a $250 million deficit in 2015-16.

Currently 7.7 per cent of Canberrans walk or cycle to work, lower than the US state of Alaska at 8.9 per cent. Pedal Power notes only 7 per cent of women say they use bikes for transport, with more than half of the trips to shops, for running errands or accessing leisure or recreation activities.

Canberra's per capita spending on cycling infrastructure stood at $5.79 in 2012, roughly comparable with other mainland Australian jurisdictions, but well below other international locations. The Netherlands spends about $40 per capita, compared with $19 in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, and $13 per capita in Washington, D.C.

"The funding should be used to promote active travel within town and group centre catchments, and to complete the protected off-road network between the town and group centres," the submission says.

"Pedal Power ACT also seeks ongoing funding to maintain and upgrade existing cycle network assets, as replacement would be significantly more expensive than repair."

For longer-range and off-road travel, Pedal Power has called for priority in missing links at Lake Burley Griffin's east basin, Bowen Park, the Kingston Foreshore, Lower Eyre Street to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands and the hospice to Grevillea Park.

Cycling injury black spots identified in the submission include the city, as well as the Lady Denman Drive shared path, Ginninderra Drive, Northbourne Avenue, Alexandria Drive, Flynn Drive, Barry Drive, Adelaide Avenue and Gungahlin Drive Extension.

The proposal comes as the ACT government uses Newspoll research to consider health promotion measures linked to cycling in the ACT.

Opinion polling under way last month asked voters how often they choose to ride to work, shopping, social events or for exercise. Participants in the phone poll were asked if their Canberra workplaces provided adequate showers and bike parking facilities and how cyclist safety could be improved in the city.

The government could provide incentives to reduce car use in Canberra, boosting public transport and riding and walking.

Pedal Power welcomed an announcement from Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Transport Reform Shane Rattenbury on Thursday that a new Active Transport Office would be created within the ACT government, aimed at bringing better integration of transport modes.