Bob Silverman by John Symon

Bob Silverman by John Symon

Few unknown figures have left such a lasting mark on the world as Robert "Bicycle Bob" Silverman.

A true nonconformist, this tireless advocate for urban cycling lived an extraordinary life. Poet, bookseller, restaurateur, traveler, educator, gallery owner--but above all, a passionate cycling activist--Bob led his vélorution (a term he was the first to popularize in Canada) with authenticity, ingenuity, and boundless creativity.

With his small but dedicated group, Le Monde à Bicyclette (MàB), and a handful of allies, Bob Silverman achieved the impossible. Over three decades, Montreal transformed from one of the least bike-friendly cities in North America into its cycling capital--thanks in part to MàB's colorful cyclodramas, street theatre protests where members donned costumes to make their point.

Silverman's story reads like a film script. A poet and independent bookseller in the 1960s, he drew in a vibrant circle of artists, intellectuals, and musicians, including Leonard Cohen and Armand Vaillancourt. In 1962, he traveled to Cuba to join Fidel Castro's revolution, meeting none other than Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Later, he worked on an Israeli kibbutz, becoming one of the rare Jewish activists to shake hands with Yasser Arafat. He studied in France and Spain, pioneered outdoor volleyball, and never shied away from challenging the status quo.

A larger-than-life figure, Robert Silverman was, as many describe him, "a prophet before his time." Discover how this real-life Man of La Mancha managed to reach a few unreachable stars...