Richard Hammond and Chris Boardman discuss the future role of the car in our transport networks

Are cars destined to fade away, or are they turning into something even more essential to our lives and identity, and can we balance our love for cars with the pressing need to reimagine transportation systems for health, climate, and cost-of-living challenges?

Today, Richard Hammond, famous for his years of motor journalism on Top Gear and then the Grand Tour, and Active Travel England commissioner Chris Boardman are our guests, in interviews I recorded at a Rees Jeffreys Road Fund debate held at the Royal Automobile Club in London.

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Richard Hammond discusses how we balance environmental concerns with the enduring human love for cars, and how we reimagine the car's future in an evolving transport network, balancing utility and emotional connection. He discusses what he sees are the limitations of electric vehicles and alternative energy solutions, and how he sees the future of car ownership in a world of shared mobility and environmental consciousness.

Then Chris Boardman joins us to talk about how active travel options can address carbon emissions, public health, and equitable access to transport. He points to places like Cambridge and Kesgrave are leading the way in creating transport systems that prioritise people, not just vehicles. He looks at the economic and societal benefits of shifting to multi-modal transport systems, including improved health outcomes and reduced costs, before giving some practical solutions and innovative technologies, from rural design guides to data-driven cycling infrastructure, that enable transport independence and reduce reliance on cars.