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Taking a (free) ride with Phil Sullivan

Among the busses, Audi’s, and construction vehicles that define Aspen’s busy streets is a maroon Chevy Suburban with a mission. Aspen Public Radio’s Elise Thatcher bring us this report from within the notorious non profit taxi service.

“Would you drink a cup of coffee?” asks Phil Sullivan. “This is where I usually make my first stop, at the bank. If there’s anything to put in there,” he chuckles. Sullivan has a friendly smile and relaxed manner. It’s 8:30pm on a snowy Friday night, the beginning of his self-imposed shift, and he’s pulling into the Shell gas station in Aspen. After the bank, he comes here “for a cup of coffee, and then try to find a place to park. That’s generally the procedure.”

Sullivan has been driving a taxi on and off for more than four decades. His current arrangement is a nonprofit titled Free Rides for People Who Need Them. But it was very different when Sullivan first started, arriving in Aspen in 1968. “I came out of Chicago, I believe just to get a little more space in my life,” he explains. “It was a hippie era, so to speak. So I’ve been here since 1968 driving something or other.”

At first it was stolen Bentleys, but that’s a story for another day. After years of running the Mellow Yellow Taxi service in Aspen-- and a detour through Mexico-- Sullivan’s wheels now are a comfortable Suburban. It’s moves silently as he easily maneuvers around waves of people coming from all directions.

Locals Charlie and Dave wave us down for a ride in front of Justice Snow’s. This is one of Sullivan’s favorite spots, and Charlie lights up after spotting him. “Hey Phil! This is my buddy Dave!” he exclaims. “Phil has been one of my best friends for, many many years,” says Charlie after he and Dave climb into the SUV. “He’s taken good care of us,” continues Charlie, “and I think it’s a bunch of crap that they threw you in jail.”

Yes, Sullivan was behind bars for nine days some years ago, when he first tried driving for just donations. It didn’t go over well with local authorities. “Yeah, but it was fun, Chuck,” smiles Sullivan. “My first meal in the slammer was shrimp cocktail!” Eventually we make it to Charlie and Dave’s destination. Sullivan can take donations now, since he’s a nonprofit, so Charlie and Dave pay him whatever they want, and then give him a big hug.

Sullivan buckles back in, and we head for downtown Aspen. I ask him if he’s ever been a little nervous about relying on people’s donations, instead of having the usual-- and perhaps more reliable-- pricing system.*

“No, not at all,” he shakes his head, “I have problems... asking for money. One time I went home with a pretty good sum of change in my pocket. It was 3 a.m., and I thought what a wonderful life.” Sullivan is shy about the exact dollar amount he makes on a good night, and doesn’t know how many rides he’s given as a nonprofit.

But he is sure about two things. First is he feels old, as Sullivan just turned 80 years old. He explains the second thing this way. “With all the people I have contact with and have the pleasure of meeting and chatting with a little bit… We talk about the mountains, and the stars and the moon and the atmosphere… but they all agree that it’s the people of this town that make it really what it is. I believe that really 100%.”

*Yes, we see the irony in asking about relying on donations. A big thanks to all our supporters!

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