If you were to ask anyone working for U.S. Africa Command what is the biggest problem they face on Kelley Barracks, they will likely tell you it is the parking. In a joint effort to alleviate parking issues, the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, along with AFRICOM leadership, have developed a car pooling initiative. According to Lieutenant Colonel Susie G. Lewis, commandant, U.S. Africa Command, this initiative is part of the larger "Perfect Parking Plan" that will help to decrease the number of cars on post during the duty day, with the potential to open up parking for 20 to 30 vehicles. There are 10 reserved spots in front of Subway. Each directorate is allowed one parking spot for carpoolers. The only stipulations are that there needs to be at least three people per car and a Commandant-staff issued placard must be displayed in the front windshield in order to park in the carpooling space. "The three-people per car stipulation is for the commute. If the commuter vehicle is used throughout the day, it is not reasonable to expect three or more people will be in the car each time it moves," Lewis said. "This is reasonable and still meets the intent of carpooling." Plans to allot carpooling spots for those with only two people per car have not been determined yet. "As a starting point, we need to monitor this three-per car initiative and base further expansion or revision of the program on how well it is executed and received," said Lewis. "Of course, success of this initiative could drive consideration for possible expansion of the program." In addition to the honor system, the overall enforcement of these spaces will be the responsibility of the Commandant's Office. Those parking illegally in spots designated for carpoolers will be ticketed by the military police. Guidance for the parking spaces was distributed to the directorates last week and placards are available for pick up from the Commandant's Administrative office in building 3306, room 102. BENEFITS OF CARPOOLING Aside from having a designated parking space for carpoolers, there are some added benefits to carpooling. According to CarpoolGlobal.com some of the added benefits of carpooling are: • Carpooling participants save money by sharing the cost of driving one car • Driving one car saves on gasoline, parking and vehicle maintenance • Carpooling decongests roads • Carpooling reduces driving-related stress for participants who are not driving on a specific ride • Participants take turns sharing their vehicles and driving with others ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS For environmental reasons, 100 carpooling people can prevent 1,320 pounds of carbon monoxide and 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere in a single year. This is according to a report from Colorado Pollution Prevention. (www.ehow.com/facts_5783807-car-pooling.html) The EU Commission's Transport Division estimates that every day 7,500 kilometers of European roads are blocked by traffic jams. Matteo Maria Galizzi authored "The Economics of Car-Pooling: A Survey for Europe," in which he states that congestion and delays increase fuel consumption and pollution. The transport sector is responsible for 28% of EU emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas. The bulk of this amount, 84% comes from road vehicles. DISADVANTAGES TO CARPOOLING Although carpooling has many great advantages there are, according to AssociatedContent.com, a few disadvantages you might want to keep in mind. • Lunch -- For those of you that leave base to eat lunch, you won't be able to go out to eat on days that you are not driving • Emergencies -- if there was a family emergency and you didn't drive to work, you'd have to find other means to get where you needed to go. • Inconvenience -- You have to leave for work exactly when the person picks you up, and you can't do errands on the way to and from work. • Germs -- if you are riding with someone that is ill you are more likely going to catch their virus. The same danger exists when using public transportation. There are advantages and disadvantages to carpooling and now thanks to the "Perfect Parking Plan" you at least have an option.