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...
By:
John Symon,
Stéphane Desjardins
Imprint: University of Ottawa Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9780776641782
ISBN 10: 0776641786
Pages: 258
Publication Date: 21 October 2025
Recommended Age: From 13 years
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Figures List of Acronyms List of People Featured in this Book Acknowledgements Foreword A Prophet before His Time Chapter 1 Killed by a Car, Reborn on a Bicycle Chapter 2 The Seven Steps Bookstore Chapter 3 Arriving in Castro’s Cuba Chapter 4 Back in Montreal, Protesting against the Vietnam War Chapter 5 Meeting His Second Wife at an Israeli Kibbutz Chapter 6 The Save Montreal Movement Chapter 7 Le Monde à Bicyclette Chapter 8 The First Demonstration Chapter 9 Storming the Metro Chapter 10 The Battle for Bike Lanes Chapter 11 Convincing Drapeau to Do the Right Thing Chapter 12 A Brief History of Montreal Bike Paths Chapter 13 One Million Cyclists Trapped on Montreal Island Chapter 14 A Bike-Friendly Mayor Is Elected Chapter 15 Protesting the Auto Show Chapter 16 The Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition and International Connections Chapter 17 MàB and Vélo Québec: Allies or Rivals? Chapter 18 Participatory Volleyball, Good Volleyball Is like Good Sex Chapter 19 The Handbook of How to Run a Vélorution Chapter 20 Vietnam and Cuba Chapter 21 Silverman and Politics Chapter 22 Milton Park Days Chapter 23 A Jew in Support of Palestinians Chapter 24 Moving to Val-David Chapter 25 Nearing the Finish Line Chapter 26 Epilogue and Homages Annex Notes Bibliography
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.
Reviews for Bob Silverman: The Impossible Hero
This is the first book about Silverman destined for an adult audience, exploring what made the man tick. The authors also examine Silverman's inspirations and what made MàB's methodology so effective. This biography, which is entertaining and easy to read, nonetheless contains an extensive bibliography and some 400 references.--Irwin Rapoport ""https: //www.westmountmag.ca/bicycle-bob-silverman-bio-launches-october-21/""
