For the city’s cabbies, the quest for a bathroom is no potty joke.
Finding bladder relief is a daily dilemma for the city’s 44,000 cabbies, who typically work 12 hour shifts and cruise miles away from their garages. And the hunt for a toilet is getting harder as new bike lanes and MUNI meters make it harder to jump out without getting ticketed.
“We’re getting squeezed further and further,” said John McDonagh, a driver for 30 years.
The city provides 55 “relief stands” where cabs can park on the street for an hour, though they must then find a place willing to let them use their facilities.
A recent spot check found the yellow signs missing from at least five of these relief zones, construction barring access from two more and two others gone because of the Times Square pedestrian revamp. Many of the existing stands were full, as the areas typically only have a handful of spots and livery cars can also use them.
“Taxi drivers are human beings. They deserve the right to park at a taxi stand and go to the bathroom,” said David Pollack, editor of Taxi Insider, a trade publication.
A Taxi and Limousine Commission spokesman said construction has displaced some relief stands, but added that the city is now revising the sites.
“The goal (is) ensuring that drivers have the best opportunities to do what they need to do,” the TLC said.
Cabbies take the issue seriously, as refraining from relieving oneself can lead to health problems. Malcolm Rattner, a taxi garage owner in Brooklyn, said he opened his bathroom to all drivers after he got workers compensation claims for kidney problems.
“They would line up out the door,” Rattner said.
Cabbies can get out of their cars at taxi stands, where cars line up to pick up passengers. But unlike a relief stand, drivers get $115 tickets if they are caught with an empty car. Police have also started issuing summons to cabbies found using toilets at city playgrounds because they are not “accompanied by a child,” according to a recent ticket which came with a $100 fine.
The NYPD did not return a request for comment about the ticket. A city Parks Department spokeswoman said the bathrooms are open to anyone and didn’t know why cabbies would be getting tickets at playgrounds.
To help drivers, the TLC is looking to have taxi GPS devices detect public bathrooms, but the upgrade is at least two years away.
In the meantime, hacks say they often resort to going in the street or peeing in bottles stowed under their seats.
“Veteran drivers all keep a bottle with them,” said Jawaid Toppa, a cabbie for 22 years.
Health effects of not regularly relieving oneself:
- A 2003 case study of a 54-year-old New York limo driver found that a chronic lack of bathroom access contributed to an enlarged, “poorly functioning” bladder and kidney stones
- Not drinking enough to avoid going to the bathroom contributes to high instances of urinary tract infections
- “Infrequent voider syndrome,” as a lack of urination is called, could cause decreased kidney functions or a need to use a catheter in very extreme cases
Source: Dr. David Goldfarb, New York Harbor VA Medical Center
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Abie 12.08.09 at 6:53 am
This is not news. This is an on going problem that the TLC has been aware of for many years.
The TLC said:
“The goal (is) ensuring that drivers have the best opportunities to do what they need to do,” the TLC said.
If this were the case the problem would have been solved many years ago.
I have written about this in articles many times. My best suggestion has been ignored. And that is this:
On all avenues at least on every other block the first parking space should be reserved for taxis that are willing to pay 25 or 50 cents to park and find an adequate facility. Then merchants should be given some incentive to allow cabbies to use the facilities. But for now none of this is being done. No attempts are even made to find help.
So, we continue to pee in the street. What other choice do we have?
If the TLC and the mayor are happy with that then no solution needs to be found
Ioan 12.08.09 at 7:35 pm
This bathroom problem is for such a long time and the City and TLC simply don’t want to hear and care.Problably a class law suit will find a solution for this fundamental natural human body function…I would like to keep TLC chairman and TLC inspectors for more than 12 hours in a taxi to see how they solve this problem.Not just talking.It is easy to talk,but it is a painful reality .The same with the police and traffic cops…I saw taxi cabs towed away just because the driver ran into a coffe shop to urinate…..This is inhuman.I like to ask them for a solution considering they are human too and urinate daily not weekly..Years ago the city had teams of 4-5 uniformed emploees paid just to catch a taxi driver trying to urinate around Laguardia Airport or under FDR Drive .It was a period of time when if you were summoned to the TLC offices, they would not let the drivers use their toilets.For years the waiting area for taxi at NYC airports did not have portable toilets but they put a traffic sign ..”.Sliperry road when wet”……. solving the problem.So how can good service be expected when city does not care about its licensed drivers…….
Daniel 12.08.09 at 9:33 pm
Some of the cabbies use a bottle, or a cafe cup to urinate inside their cab, and toss it under the seat, and then spilled! 90 percent of the garage cab smells like sh…! They are sweating for 12 hours, then another driver, and the cycle going on !!! With the partition inside the cab, there is no room to pee, but feels like a boiler room and the toilet combined together in the cage!
ali 12.10.09 at 10:32 pm
well if u ask this is a non issue. so many drivers finds their way out to use restroom. and for those who says this is an issue those guys are so busy making money they dont wana take a break. they just want to pick up the next fair even their blader is about to explode. if u work 12 hours and dont take half hour break twice then you shouldnt be complaining. many gas stations have restroom facilities and parking available.
i think cab drivers shouldnt be complaining about anything because we dont act like humans on the street. street is our work place and if we dont respect people on the street and customers on the back seat then we dont deserve any. i see many example every day like cab drivers driving like nascar and cutting around and cursing and using hand signs.
Abie 12.11.09 at 6:26 am
Ali,
You must use a diaper. All babies do!
Either that or you don’t drive. What planet are you on?
ali 12.11.09 at 9:13 am
well abie dont try to make it a personal war. i spoke my mind and i have the complete to do so. i face i***** like u everyday on the street and i know how to handle them. cab drivers dont have any respect on work just because big mouths like u. i said in my comment before “u have to give respect to earn some” and u just disrespected me.
ali 12.11.09 at 9:14 am
well abie dont try to make it a personal war. i spoke my mind and i have the complete right to do so. i face i***** like u everyday on the street and i know how to handle them. cab drivers dont have any respect on work just because big mouths like u. i said in my comment before “u have to give respect to earn some” and u just disrespected me.
Abie 12.11.09 at 9:56 am
Ali, I’m not an i-diot. I’ve been driving for 40 years and I don’t need jerks like you telling me what problems I have and don’t have. You should be helping your fellow drivers, not doubting their needs.
Go pee in your pants.
jeff 02.08.10 at 7:56 pm
Help.
how does workers comp insurance work for NY hacks?