Bob Silverman

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 velorution (a term he was the first to popularize in Canada) with authenticity, ingenuity, and boundless creativity.

With his small but dedicated group, Le Monde Bicyclette (MB), 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 MB’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…

Author Biography

Journalist and author Stephane Desjardins has managed several newspapers and newsrooms (Journal de l’assurance, Finance et Investissement, Quebec Inc., Canal Argent/TVA Nouvelles, Coopoint, Geo Plein Air, Le Velo Urbain, Journal AccesLaurentides). In 2013, he founded the hyperlocal news network pamplemousse.ca, which he ran until 2018. He currently works as a personal finance and consumer affairs columnist for the Journal de Montreal and the Journal de Quebec.

John Symon is the author of several guidebooks covering Montreal and Ottawa. He was a long-time reporter for the Montreal Times, as well as Montreal correspondent for Pedal magazine for many years. An avid cyclist, John met Bicycle Bob Silverman through volleyball, which led to a 30-year friendship. A two-time Green Party candidate and long-time environmental activist, John is well aware of the many challenges Bob has faced as an activist. Bob wanted John to write an unfiltered bio, but only read short excerpts before flying him off to Bicycle Heaven.