A cyclist was escorted off one of the north-east’s busiest roads by police before being involved in a collision with a bus on the route, it was revealed yesterday.
Officers first stopped a man pushing a bicycle on the northbound A90 Stonehaven to Aberdeen road, on the central reservation, at about 3pm on Wednesday and offered him safety advice.
At about 3.40pm the man was again stopped on the route and taken to Stonehaven, where he was advised to get a bus to Aberdeen.
However, at 7.40pm, police received reports of a man wearing dark clothing cycling north on the A90 near Muchalls – though he could not be traced at the time.
At about 8.25pm, a 43-year-old cyclist was involved in a collision with a Megabus between the Bridge of Muchalls and Stonehaven, at the Cortins junction.
He was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by paramedics with serious injuries, where he remains in a “stable” condition.
It is believed the same cyclist was involved in all of the incidents.
Roads policing sergeant, Steve Manson, who is leading the investigation into the crash, said: “Shortly after 3pm, police received a report of a man with a bicycle walking on the central reservation of the A90 near Stonehaven.
“Police attended and the man was given suitable advice. Shortly before 3.40pm, police received a further report of a man with a bicycle walking northbound on the A90 near Stonehaven, he was traced by police and taken to Stonehaven, where he was advised he would get a bus to Aberdeen.
“At around 7.40pm, there were further reports to police of a man wearing dark clothing, cycling north on the A90 near Muchalls, Stonehaven. Police were unable to trace the cyclist at this time.
“Around 8.30pm, a report was received of a cyclist involved in a collision. Police and ambulance attended.
“I would urge anyone with information or who saw a cyclist on the A90 near Stonehaven wearing dark clothing and riding a dark-coloured pedal cycle, particularly near to the time of the collision, or who saw a man matching this description pushing a bike, to contact officers as soon as possible.”
A spokeswoman for Megabus said: “One of our vehicles was involved in an incident at around 8.30pm on Wednesday in which a cyclist was seriously injured at Muchalls Corner on the A90 Northbound into Aberdeen.
“Our immediate concerns are for the welfare of the person involved who was taken to hospital.
“Safety is our highest priority. We are assisting police with their inquiries into the incident as well as carrying out our own investigation.”
Call for safer cycling routes after A90 crash between bus and bike
North-east campaigners last night called for safer cycling routes between Aberdeen and Stonehaven.
At the moment, many people struggle to travel on two wheels further than south of Muchalls without taking to the carriageway.
Chairwoman of the Aberdeen Cycle Forum Jyll Skinner, said: “There should be better infrastructure along the A90. There is some infrastructure, but it is not by any means concrete. It requires cyclists to go away from the road.
“We completely acknowledge it is a dual carriageway and it is an incredibly dangerous place for cyclists to be, but the route is necessary for commuting because of the way in which housing has grown up around Aberdeen.
“There needs to be more of a joined-up route between Stonehaven and Aberdeen, something a bit more user-friendly.
“Cycle numbers are going up, we know the will to cycle is there and we know people want to have more options. This sort of event just highlights we need to put safety foremost.”
