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If so, and you live along the Deeside corridor, then why not take your bike for a ride as the Royal Deeside Service has now become even friendlier for bike riders.

Aberdeenshire Council and Stagecoach Bluebird are working together to provide a number of free bike bags on Royal Deeside bus services between Braemar and Aberdeen as part of an initial trial throughout the summer.

Depending on the success of the trial and feedback from customers, then bags may be provided on other parts of the network in future.

The bags are heavy-duty polythene bags that will protect the bike and the bus and will be used to store bikes in the boot space and anyone interested in using the bike bags should ask their driver who will be able to provide further instruction.

Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird Andrew Jarvis said: “The introduction of bike bags on our Royal Deeside services is another good example of the strong partnership relationship that Stagecoach enjoys with Aberdeenshire Council.

“In recent years, the Discover Royal Deeside Service has been greatly enhanced with environmentally friendly engines, CCTV, more frequent services and 11 new state-of-the-art wheelchair accessible coaches.

“At Stagecoach, we are constantly looking at new ways to promote the attractiveness of our services.

“The bike bags will hopefully encourage some motorists out of their cars in favour of using the bus for one leg, or even just a part of their journey, and cycle the rest of the way.”

Aberdeenshire Council’s head of transportation Ewan Wallace said: “The council’s Walking and Cycling Action Plan sets out our commitment to increasing the use of sustainable travel options and this project is an important part of this.

“The route is already well used by cyclists due to its position next to the Deeside Way and making it more convenient to store bikes is good for both keen cyclists and potential cyclists and better for the environment too.”