Rain, snow and bitter temperatures are just some of the obstacles regularly faced by bus passengers and cyclists in the north-east.
But now, a new shelter facility has been officially opened to the public travelling from the north-west of the city.
The building, which consists of a waiting room, cycle lockers, toilets and showers, has been constructed to serve people using the £15.2million park and ride beside Craibstone roundabout.
The park and ride, which was opened in February, accommodates bus passengers from Inverurie and Kintore, using the Stagecoach 37 service, and people travelling on the number 16 Aberdeen Airport route.
The shelter has been designed to allow car sharers, bus passengers and cyclists to have somewhere to wait and get changed.
Councillor Ross Grant, who is the city council’s transport and regeneration spokesman, said: “It is fantastic that the building, as the final part of the new Park and Ride scheme beside the Craibstone roundabout and Dyce Drive, has opened for people to use.
“We would urge people from places in Aberdeenshire, north-west of the city such as Inverurie or Kintore to use the £15.2million Park and Ride at Craibstone, because it means you don’t have to drive into the city centre and then find a parking space.
“With the cycle and showering facilities in the building, people have a real choice as to which environmentally-friendly way they travel into town and, with the bus lanes along the A96 from the Craibstone roundabout, it’s a faster journey.
“Less cars means less congestion in the city centre and the A96 which is of benefit to everyone.”
The authority hopes the park and ride will reduce congestion and emissions with fewer motorists driving into the city and trying to find parking spaces.
The new accommodation sits alongside a 1,000-space car park and link road which joins the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road with Dyce Drive.
The route was opened in August and also has a footpath and cycling lane. Drivers will be able to leave their vehicles there for a maximum of 36 hours.
