Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Safety

Late Late Show’s James Corden Opens Fire on Coronado Bike NIMBYs

 

Mocking people who fight safe streets improvements and bike lanes is hardly a new sport. From the subtle humor of the bicyclist crashing into Stephen Colbert's desk to Jon Stewart's rant about Dorothy Rabinowitz and the freakout about Citibike this issue has been fertile ground in the past.

If you don't already know him, meet James Corden, host of the Late Late Show. Corden focuses on America's Most Famous NIMBYs, the white-haired residents of Coronado who took to City Hall to stop the influx of safe street projects graffiti-ing the streets.

I've been a fan of Corden since he appeared in Dr. Who a couple of years ago, so I highly recommend watching the entire clip. If you can't here are some highlights.

"The problem of too many bike lanes ranks somewhere between, 'my new BMW's air conditioner works a little too well,' and 'The Starbucks near my house doesn't take $100 bills,'" Corden exclaims near the start of the clip.

Later, after a woman compares a plan to increase the number of bike lanes to taking her daughters to a tattoo parlor for full-body-tattoos, Corden snarks, "If you are going to town hall to complain about bike lanes, your kids are definitely going to get tattoos."

But he save the best for last. After a thirty-second call to arms where he promises a ride to Coronado to paint our own bike lanes if the NIMBYs win the day, Corden channels his inner-Braveheart when he declares, "You may take our bike lanes, but you will never take our freedom...to ride in those bike lanes."

Incidentally, if someone from the Late Late Show is reading this, and you are planning to do more on Coronado, drop me a line on Twitter @damientypes or leave a note in the comments. Let's talk...and ride...

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

The Week in Short Videos

Leg. wrap, the highway expansion being built for ducks, and pushing back on Trump misinformation.

September 19, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

Big Day in LA! New Gold Line/A Line Stations open.

September 19, 2025

Enviro Groups Urge Gov to Reject Legislation Advancing Road Widening in Sonoma County Swamp

Given the strong support in the legislature, Caltrans, and the California Transportation Commission for the project it's unlikely the Governor will veto. But, that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons that he should.

September 18, 2025

A Week Without Driving in Alameda

Alameda joins national group trying to get people to give a car-free lifestyle a whirl.

September 18, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

All the news from up and down the Golden State.

September 18, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Live from MARS To Change the ‘Crash First, Fix Later’ Mentality

Welcome to MARS: Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety. Let's talk about it in a special edition of the podcast.

September 18, 2025
See all posts