Tracking mileage: how much are you driving?

I was stunned to discover that I'm driving about 6,700 miles per year, which averages out to be about 129 miles per week. While it's below the national average of 9,000 per year, it's well above Portland's average of 4,403 miles per year (if these studies are to be believed.) I don't feel like I'm driving that much. Where the heck am I going? So I've started tracking the trips I'm taking and miles I'm driving each week to see where I'm going and how far I'm traveling. My hope is that I will learn something about my habits and become more conscientious about driving. There is always room for improvement.

My tracking system isn't terribly complex. I keep a notepad and pen next to me in my drink holder and record the odometer reading on Mondays. Then every time I get in the car I write where I'm going. If I buy gas, I note how much. On the following Monday I calculate my miles driven and start a new log for the week. I can look back and see that one week I drove 100 miles, but there were two days when I didn't drive at all. Last week I drove 45 miles, but I drove every day. I also carpooled with Renee a couple of times (we've finally found our carpool groove), and I walked to the library, grocery store and the pilates studio.

If anything, I think this little experiment is going to encourage me to walk and bike (maybe) more. Hooray for exercise! And I've been inspired by a neighbor and my mom who are public transit pros. I think there is a bus trip in my future (crazy!). My competitive nature will have me trying to beat my best mileage week. There have been (and will be) road trips to Seattle, the beach and the mountains to take into consideration, so if I can decrease my day-to-day mileage, maybe I can actually lower my yearly mileage. We'll see.

Do you know how much you drive each year? Have any desire to decrease that amount, and have you given any thought as to how to do it?