I wish You all very much welcome to Stockholm Podcar City Conference!   This will be the 5th annual Podcar City Conference. Last Year we had the very successful Conference in San Jose and before that in Malmoe, Ithaca NY and Uppsala.

Today´s transportation system is reaching a dead end. Climate change is a threat, energy efficiency is a necessity, the environment around must survive. That's for the long run. In short terms valuable space is swallowed by roads and parking places and accidents and congestion are increasing.

Podcars are coming, Masdar, Heathrow, Suncheon. PRT studies are underway worldwide in California, Minneapolis, India, Sweden. Since the start three and a half years ago the Swedish podcar network KOMPASS has got some 10-15 cities and municipalities as members who have gone far in planning. There are in addition many others who would like to start planning.

We are waiting for the first Pilot line or lines where Stockholm, Uppsala and Sodertalje are in the front. It will be very interesting to hear what the minister of infrastructure Catharina Elmsäter- Svärd will say when she is opening the Conference. 

We have now a more or less worldwide financial crisis. What is a better time than now to start up a new modern transportation system to complement and improve what we have today, meeting the climate change, new jobs and a more sustainable world? 

I am really looking forward meeting You at the PCCC5-Conference at Waterfront Congress Hall in Stockholm. Let us be the refreshing wind for the future. 

Looking forward seeing You 

Hans Lindqvist
 ~ President of the Podcar network KOMPASS in Sweden