COVID-19 crisis a massive
experiment in teleworking
Re: “Will coronavirus spur a traffic-solving remote-work revolution? Don’t count on it” (Eastbaytimes.com, March 22):
The coronavirus pandemic is a difficult time, but it’s one we can learn from. It’s a massive experiment in teleworking. Outside of affecting traffic congestion, the shift to remote employment might mean more-flexible standard work hours, changes in the office landscape and, of course, better business for Zoom.
Most notably, fewer commuting employees would mean decreased carbon emissions in the Bay Area. When Brookings Institution Fellow Tracy Hadden Loh, who studies urban life, work and transportation, suggests in the article that we need a “comprehensive set of reforms” for fixing traffic, let’s not forget to tackle one of the largest problems that traffic contributes to: climate change.
While the current traffic decrease is caused by less-than-ideal conditions, the environmental benefits can at least be appreciated. It shows how quickly the earth can recover with the right actions. To continue those benefits, we must all urge our representatives to support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 763), which taxes carbon emissions and returns the money to the American people.
Alison Zhang
Fremont
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor
