THE TIME has come: Turn off the ignition. Lock the doors. And throw away the key. With soaring fuel prices cutting into our spending options, a gas-guzzling SUV might not be the best way to travel.

For all kinds of local travel, we'll break down options for folks looking for a change, from scooters to motorbikes to your own two feet. And in case you don't like those options, we offer some alternatives you may not have even considered. We'll look at all of the above - for comfort, speed, cost and coolness. So settle in and enjoy the ride - or the walk.

 Walking, strumming, scooting

 Marty Hyde is a mild-mannered guy, but when he commutes to Garrettford Elementary School in Drexel Hill — 21/2  miles each way — he uses a different method of transit each day.

Pedal to the Metal

As gasoline prices have risen, motorists don't have to reinvent the wheel to solve their commuting woes. They can just use different ones: A bicycle is a no-fuel, low-maintenance form of transportation that people have used for decades.

Gas-Free transit

Although commuting by SEPTA does not provide the fitness benefits of a bike or skateboard, SEPTA rides are cheaper week to week than filling up the gas tank of a four-wheeler.

Two wheels - better than four

His Vespa gets 55 miles per gallon. Compared to his Toyota Sienna, which takes $75 to fill up, it costs Bart Weitzman only a few bucks to fill his scooter's 2.1-gallon gas tank. That fuel efficiency, scooter-sellers say, is bringing more people through the doors.

The Tony Hawk commute

Jumping down a flight of stairs or gliding down a ramp can be fun on a skateboard. But for many people, it’s also a mode of transportation.

On your own two feet

A walk will take more effort than a step on the gas pedal, but it can accentuate the details of life in a way that can't be done from a car.  And the health advantages are hard to beat.

Your car-free options at a glance

Here's a quick rundown of various factors you may want to consider when deciding how to get around. Prices and assessments may be for the particular model listed rather than for an entire class of vehicle; your mileage may vary.

 ONLINE-ONLY FEATURES:

• Special Edition of "So What Happened Was..." from Ronnie Polaneczky: Going without a car of your own
• The newest way to glide: The two-wheel, self-balancing Segway Personal Transporter was once a plaything of the rich, but now some consumers are looking at Segways as legitimate means of transportation, Segway experts say.
• Also-rans: Here are some more ways to get around town with varying degrees of success.
• Interactive Graphic - Your car-free options: Click on a person or vehicle to jump to that section of our feature and find out what you need to know about each mode of car-free transportation.