Bob Silverman: The Impossible Hero

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), an...