With allthis talk about transit and driving vehicles that get better gas mileage, there is something we haven?t yet mentioned: not going in to the office at all.
Technology and security demands have brought telecommuting to the fore. Simply stated, telecommuting is something that many of us do every day without thinking about it. How many times have you received and answered a work-related e-mail at home or on vacation? I would venture to guess that the number is quite high. At its best, telecommuting is about working out of a home office or a telework center one or two days a week ? NOT hitting the road during rush hour to get into the office.
No, it?s not for everyone or for every job (police officers probably shouldn?t telecommute), but there are a number of jobs that fit quite well. In addition to saving fuel and benefiting to the environment, a number of companies are looking at setting up telecommuting programs to keep things running in the event of a catastrophe. It?s called a continuity of operations plan, or COOP. For example, what if bird flu really becomes a pandemic and large numbers of people are quarantined or office buildings are closed down? That?s when a COOP would go into effect. When it comes to simply reducing the volume of traffic out there, telecommuting works very well with or without a crisis.
On the topic of hybrid vehicles, Harry writes to say: “I too am a fan of hybrid cars (and cars in general). Your statistics on the cost of hybrid cars are consistent with what I have read elsewhere for the last few years. Comparing a Toyota Prius to a Camry for total cost of use over five years is fair, except that I feel that the Prius is a smaller car than the Camry. My friends who now drive a Prius praise it for allowing them to spend less money on gasoline. All of them were formerly driving eight-cylinder vehicles. As we know, trading an eight-cylinder vehicle for a four-cylinder vehicle will always cause one to spend less on gasoline!
“My brother-in-law manages a Ford dealership in Harrisburg, Pa. He says that the hybrid Ford Escape is not popular there since his customers from the rural areas do not drive in the city and do not get a big benefit from its electric engine. They routinely drive at speeds that require the gasoline engine. Think about that for a couple minutes. I look forward to your articles in The Examiner.”
Nelson writes in response to a letter from earlier this week where an MTA rider complained about having to wait while her bus paid its toll with a paper ticket: “I occasionally ride the MTA commuter buses from Hartford County to Baltimore. Every one I?ve been on has used E-ZPass at the McHenry Tunnel.”
That?s the way it should be. Maybe Betty will write back and let us know what route she rides where the driver has to stay in the slower toll lanes.
Questions, comments, random musings? Write to [email protected]
