James May says driving a car doesn’t give you any “extra rights on the roads”, as he claims cycling in cities is “efficient and quick”, but driving is “very boring”

While his former co-host Jeremy Clarkson might be busy taking digs at Jeremy Vine (and cyclists) — claiming that a roundabout branded “one of London’s most dangerous” is “fine because I have a car, not a child’s toy” — James May has once again come out batting for cyclists, saying that driving a car doesn’t give you any “extra rights on the roads” and that he much prefers riding a bike in a city because it’s “efficient and quick”, unlike sitting behind a steering wheel which is “very boring”.

Speaking on Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder, May said: “I find driving in cities very boring. I’m a big fan of cycling in cities. I think it’s very efficient and quick.”

And while the “war on motorists” rages on in national headlines and Twitter threads, often fuelled by none other than Clarkson, May poured cold water on the idea that owning a car somehow guarantees free rein over the roads.

“Yes, you technically are [allowed to drive where you like], but that doesn’t mean you have to,” he said. “It doesn’t give you any extra rights on the road, and it doesn’t mean you’re obliged to get value for money by using your car every waking minute.”

“I say this as someone who loves cars. I don’t want them to be vilified or taken away from us… I find that cars are not enjoyable and not particularly useful around a city. They’re actually excellent for going between places.”

> James May says 20mph is “plenty fast enough”, and hopes “change in attitude” can help end road sectarianism

The former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter said he believes driving should be kept for the times when it actually makes sense — like when transporting something awkward.

“It is [useful], in town if you have to collect heavy things. I can’t go on my bicycle up to town and pick up a large vase, for example. I’ve never been to town and picked up a large vase, but you know, that’s an example,” he said (perhaps he’s not too familiar with the concept of cargo bikes, but we’ll let this one pass).

James May riding his Orbea (credit: James May)

However, just a few days after infamously telling councils refusing to build cycle lanes to “stop being t***s”, he’s sort of done a 360: “There is a case for making bicycle lanes and cycle infrastructure. We’ve got tons of it in London, but some of it can be a bit overdone, in my view, and also pedantic.”

“I think what’s happening here is people, they’re trying to control bicycles in the same way that they do motor traffic with endless lights,” he continued. “So, we’ve got junctions with lights for cars, filters for cars, lights for pedestrians and another set for bicycles. It’s very expensive, I suspect, and I think it’s too much.”

Instead, the 62-year-old said that a little trust in people to navigate spaces without being funnelled by rules might not be such a bad idea: “I think you can leave a lot of this stuff — certainly where pedestrians and casual cyclists are concerned — to the wit of humanity.”

He added: “They [rules] are to a certain extent necessary for cars, vans and trucks because they’re big and heavy and not that wieldy. But I’m not sure it’s really necessary for people and bicycles and joggers and scooters and so on.”

> James May tells councils to stop being "t***s" and build more cycle lanes

 

 

 

 

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Pointing to his experiences abroad, May said not all countries micromanage the roads in the same way. “I’ve been to plenty of countries where there are virtually no markings for these things on the road — namely, well, Holland and India, for example.”

“If you leave people to it, they work it out pretty well,” he said. “The human computer is a remarkable device — better than an algorithm.”

May has been quite frank in sharing his thoughts on cycling lately, which diverge quite sharply from remarks made by his loud-mouthed colleague. Two weeks ago, he spoke to the London Cycling Campaign about his love for life on two wheels, his views on cycling issues, and about the “over 25 bicycles” he now owns, including three Bromptons, a 1980s Moser and an Orbea Orca.

> “You don’t need vehicle levels of traffic control for bicycles. People on bicycles are really just pedestrians”: Cyclists say James May “gets it” after former Top Gear presenter criticises “slightly extremist” cycling traffic lights

Commenting on councils who refuse to accommodate cyclists with safe and accessible infrastructure, May suggested “some of it smacks of sheer bloody-mindedness”.

“Kensington & Chelsea Council says it’s not going to have any cycling infrastructure — well, why not? There's plenty of space. Big, wide roads. Why are they being t***s about it?

“Most of the anti-cycling rage that I read, like that nonsense in the Daily Telegraph about bicycles doing 50mph, is clearly just rubbish. The most I've ever managed, according to my Garmin, is 31mph, and that was downhill in Richmond Park, and the world record is something like 40mph. I don't understand how the editors and subeditors could have looked at that front page and not thought, hang on a minute.”

James May builds a bike (credit: Drivetribe/YouTube)

In March, he was once again in the news for the right reasons, as cyclists concluded that May “gets it”, after he criticised “vehicle levels of traffic control for bicycles”.

> James May rubbishes "nonsense" ideas to regulate cyclists in response to fatal collision

Asked what he dislikes about bicycle infrastructure, May said: “You don’t need vehicle levels of traffic control for bicycles. People on bicycles are really just pedestrians. A bicycle is just an elaborate bit of footwear.

“As long as people cycle in a sympathetic way, and pedestrians are still at the top of the hierarchy – the world belongs to people, not machines – then it ought to work.”

He continued: “For example, there’s a bicycle traffic light near me at Turnham Green in Chiswick. But really it should just be a ‘give way’ sign, and we should allow for the wit of humanity.

“Not every action needs to be controlled. I find it slightly extremist.”