Aspen's Ultimate Transport
    The Ultimate Taxi is Jon Barnes' high-tech flash back in a taxi. For $75, Barnes takes up to five people on half-hour spins through Aspen.   

    But this is no ordinary taxi. Barnes bills his rolling side show as the only "music studio, theatre, nightclub, planetarium, toy store, internet connected taxi on the planet."   

     The cab is indeed internet connected. At www.ultimatetaxi.com, his site spreads out two dozen colorful pages with sound and motion. There are message boards, a chat room, views of the taxi, and pictures of passengers, information on Barnes and his mobile enterprise and a list of the famous people who have hailed him.

     This being in Aspen, no opportunity is lost to drop a name or two: Clint Eastwood, Bill Bradley, Pierce Brosnan, Dudley Moore, George Hamilton, Ringo Starr, Michael Douglas and Jerry Seinfeld.   

     The tour may take in Aspen highlights, but the cab itself is the biggest attraction. A disco ball swings from the ceiling, a fog machine spews smoke and spinning red lasers dazzle the eyes.   

     The cap is equipped with state-of-the-art-sound but fares are as likely to hear the cabbie himself banging on the dashboard or fingering the organ-Barnes' musical tastes run from Stevie Wonder to Dire Straits.   

    Barnes occasionally stays live on the internet as he drives through town, sometimes pulling over to exchange information with interested parties around the world.

     To make a reservation, call 970-927-9239 or search him on the World Wide Web. Every person who takes a ride gets a free page on his site for 90 days. Or, if you just want to chat, Barnes says he's online live from 7:30 pm to 1 am on summer nights.