Pro Walk/Pro Bike® Conference September 10-13, 2012

Come and learn how to make a difference in her life! The Pro Walk/Pro Bike® Conference is the preeminent learning conference in North America for those who want to make a difference creating more walkable, bikeable and livable cities for everyone. Is that you? Early registration is now open!

Americans are experiencing economic adversity unprecedented in recent generations. New realities face millions of people and are causing severe shifts in lifestyle expectations. And while many are resisting the obvious, the optimists are taking action. They are downsizing, conserving, simplifying, un-debting, adopting new ideas and becoming much more financially self-sufficient.

Communities are reflecting the actions of their citizens. While some avoid change and new choices, others are embracing new technology and fresh thinking in urban design to fit the new realities. The wisest of these communities are doing what hockey Star Wayne Gretsky coached, "Don't skate to where the puck is, skate to where the puck is going to be."

Four years ago Long Beach decided to skate to where the puck will be. The City began a progressive bike-friendly campaign in line with an overall shift towards new urbanist design that supports our citizen's enthusiasm for simple, healthy, active living lifestyles. Our new state of the art bike and pedestrian facilities are living examples of innovation applied in Long Beach and working.

Political leadership in Long Beach "gets it." They are successfully deploying these improvements as economic development and savvy marketing tools. City professionals have been trained to implement the plans. Funding from state and federal resources have been tapped, leveraged and maximized.

Smart young urban professionals are choosing Long Beach specifically because it offers easy car "light" or car free living with excellent mass transit and bicycle infrastructure. Sixteen bike-related businesses have opened in Long Beach in the last 18 months, all due in some part to the city's embrace of bicycling.

We are riding a wave of optimism in Long Beach and you are invited to join us at the Pro Walk/Pro Bike® Conference, September 10-13, 2012. Caution is advised for pessimists. Seeing, experiencing, and learning about these innovations can be transformational experience. Optimists in Long Beach welcome the opportunity to recruit you.

Welcome to Long Beach!

Charlie Gandy
Chair, Local Host Committee
Pro Walk/Pro Bike® 2012
Long Beach, California