Downtown Montreal bike ride will honor 'Bicycle Bob' Silverman

The ceremony on Saturday is inspired by the poetic disturbances of the activist group Le Monde à bicyclette, which Silverman co-founded.

Karim Kammah attaches a sign at the corner of St-Denis and Roy Sts. in Montreal on Saturday, March 12, 2022, in a ceremony to honor Robert “Bicycle Bob” Silverman. Silverman was one of the co-founders of the activist group Le Monde à bicyclette (MAB). Silverman died last Feb. 20 at the age of 88. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

The event, hosted by Vélo fantôme, will come just a month after an initial gathering to honor Robert “Bicycle Bob” Silverman following his death in February.

In 1975, Silverman co-founded Le Monde à bicyclette — a group of activists who used street theater and die-ins to bring attention to the plight of urban cyclists, resulting in a bike revolution in Montreal.

Saturday’s ceremony will be inspired by the group’s poetic disturbances, Vélo fantôme said in a statement. Montrealers are invited to join the event at the corner of Ste-Catherine St. and Robert-Bourassa Blvd. at 2 pm, then follow the group on foot or bike “to take part in various festive actions in some of the most emblematic locations in the city, which all meant a lot to Robert.”

“Numerous testimonials about Mr. Silverman’s invaluable contributions to many important causes are planned,” the group said.

More than 200 Montrealers showed up to honor Silverman’s life at the event in March.