Bob Silverman: The Impossible Hero

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Robert Bicycle Bob Silverman achieved the impossible with his small but loyal band of followers in Le Monde a Bicyclette (MB), together with a few allies. Over three decades. Montreal was transformed from one of the least bicycle-friendly cities in North America to becoming the cycling capital of North America by practising colorful cyclodramas, or street theatre with group members dressed in costume.

Robert Silverman was a cinematic and historical figure larger than life. A poet who owned an independent bookstore in 1960, he attracted an incredible gang of artists, intellectuals and musicians including Leonard Cohen and Armand Vaillancourt. He travelled to Fidel Castros Cuba in 1962 to join the revolution, eventually meeting Ernesto Che Guevara. A few years later, he worked on an Israeli kibbutz, later becoming a rare Jew to shake hands with Yasser Arafa. He studied in France and Spain and pioneered outdoor volleyball. A notable nonconformist, his activism changed Montreals landscape forever. Many describe him as a prophet before his time.

Find out how Robert Silverman, a real life Man of la Mancha, succeeded in reaching a few unreachable stars

Author Bio

Stphane Desjardins (Author)
Journalist and author Stphane Desjardins has managed several newspapers and newsrooms (Journal de lassurance, Finance et Investissement, Qubec Inc., Canal Argent/TVA Nouvelles, Coopoint, Go Plein Air, Le Vlo Urbain, Journal AccsLaurentides). 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 Montral and the Journal de Qubec.

John Symon (Author)
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.