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Get the Facts Do Your Part
This is a core SixLinks guide
500 Transportation points
by Jeff Gunther Guide: Drive Less

Jeff's action: Drive Less

Regardless of the vehicle you are driving, reducing the amount you drive will reduce your energy consumption, and will also save you money. This guide is all about thinking about how much you drive currently and what you can do to reduce that.

Note: If you're already doing this action, take a look through each of the steps and make sure you haven't missed anything. If all's well, go ahead and check off all the boxes, then go start something new!
Step 1: Keep track of how much you drive
Keep a little log of how much you drive for a couple of weeks and figure out how much you drive and for what reasons. Be sure to keep track ... read more
Keep a little log of how much you drive for a couple of weeks and figure out how much you drive and for what reasons. Be sure to keep track of all the little trips down the street or to the store, these are the ones that will be the easiest to reduce.
July 28, 2009
I know I drive to work every day. It's quite far and requires some interstate travel, so I don't know how much it can be replaced by biking, but I want to cut out my other trips. My goal is to not drive to, or even be in the car if others are driving to, any location within 5 miles of my house. We'll see how it goes.
Alex J Fierro, July 29, 2009
I just moved closer to my job, so now my commute is 8 miles each way. I also live above a grocery store, so I just walk downstairs to get food/supplies! This is good because my car averages 19/21 through regular use.

@Jeff: "Even be in the car if others are driving to, any location within 5 miles of my house." - You don't support carpooling? Or you want to show your friends that if they drive 5 miles instead of bike 5 miles... you'll show them the evil of their ways by depriving them of your company?
July 29, 2009
Is your 8 miles not bikeable (at least in decent weather)? My logic for going it by bike even when others is driving is two-fold. First off, I hope to show everyone that the places we are going are bikeable and that it would take not that much longer just to bike. Also, I'm finding it is a great source of exercise I wasn't otherwise getting and holding myself to this rule will encourage me to keep doing it.
Updates and Comments: What is this?
The updates and comments below show how Jeff is doing in completing his action. You can leave him comments, suggestions and encouragement using the box below.
Step 2: Make a plan read more
Try to make a commitment to reduce your driving in some regular way. This can mean taking public transportation or walking or biking to work or the store. You could pick a day to not drive. You could have 1 or 2 days a week that are designated as your days to run errands. You could refuse to make random trips to the grocery store after you get home from work. Feel free to post more ideas in the comments section of this guide.
Step 3: Stick to it read more
Keep track of your trips for the next couple of weeks to see if you have succeeded in reducing your driving. If you haven't, try something new, if you have, be sure to keep it up and share your success story.
All Done!
Tomo Says:Dog-park days are the best days ever.
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