I do not own a car, and my main form of travel to Westminster

Hear the words of Jeremy Corbyn, spoken not in grandeur but in simplicity, and yet carrying the weight of truth: “I do not own a car, and my main form of travel to Westminster and in my constituency is by bicycle. I also take my bike on trains to meetings in other parts of the country, which enables me to see other cities and the other parts of the country.” At first, this may seem only the description of a man’s daily habits. But within it lies a teaching of humility, of connection, of sustainability, and of the nobility of the ordinary.

At the heart of this saying is the power of simplicity. In a world driven by speed, wealth, and convenience, Corbyn declares that he does not rely on a car but upon a bicycle, a humble machine powered by human strength. This is no accident of poverty, but a choice that reflects his values. For the bicycle is not merely transport—it is a declaration of self-reliance, a practice of moderation, and a symbol of equality. Unlike the car, which encloses its rider in metal and glass, the bicycle keeps its rider exposed to wind, rain, and sun—reminding him that he is part of the world, not apart from it.

His words also speak of connection. By cycling through his constituency, Corbyn moves at a pace that allows him to see, to hear, and to greet the people he represents. He is not carried past them in a sealed carriage, but among them, approachable and visible. When he takes his bicycle on trains to other parts of the country, he experiences the same landscapes, streets, and stations as ordinary citizens. This is a deliberate act of solidarity, a way of refusing the distance that power so often builds between leaders and the people.

The ancients, too, understood this wisdom. Consider Cincinnatus, the Roman farmer-statesman, who when called to lead Rome returned to his plow after victory, refusing luxury for simplicity. Or think of Mahatma Gandhi, who spun his own cloth and walked among the poor, choosing to live as they lived so he could know their struggles. Corbyn’s bicycle is a modern emblem of this same spirit: the leader who walks—or in this case, rides—beside his people, rather than above them.

There is also within his words the echo of sustainability. To travel by bicycle is to choose the path that leaves little trace, that does not poison the air or consume vast resources. In an age of environmental crisis, this humble act becomes a quiet heroism. It reminds us that great change begins not only in laws and parliaments, but in the daily choices of how we live, how we move, how we consume. The bicycle, then, is not only a tool of travel, but a symbol of harmony with the Earth.

History offers us parallels of leaders and thinkers who understood that travel itself can be a form of learning. Charles Dickens, traveling by train across England, drew inspiration for his novels from the lives of ordinary people he encountered. Corbyn, in his train journeys with his bicycle, also gains fresh eyes upon his land, seeing both the beauty and the struggle of his country. Travel, done simply and attentively, awakens us to truths that grandeur blinds us to.

The lesson, then, is this: do not despise the humble ways. Whether on a bicycle, on foot, or by train, these modes of travel carry not only the body but the spirit closer to wisdom. Choose simplicity where others chase extravagance; choose connection where others seek isolation; choose sustainability where others indulge waste. In practice, this means walking or cycling when you can, meeting people face to face, and remembering that leadership, in any form, is not about rising above but about standing alongside.

Thus Corbyn’s words, though modest, carry the strength of principle: that to ride a bicycle instead of driving a car is not a lesser way, but a greater one. It is a path of humility, of connection, of care for the Earth and one’s people. And so, let us learn: that greatness is not always found in grandeur, but often in the steady rhythm of pedals turning on the open road, where a leader and his people share the same journey.