For a growing number of citizens, reasonable access to a decent public toilet is no joke, and the lack of it may actually prevent them from riding transit, or even leaving the house. It's a question of accessibility and needs to be taken seriously.
The petitioners argue that with trips often taking more than 90 minutes to complete, asking passengers to simply “hold it” until they get to their destination is inhumane.
The bottom line for decent public toilets - The Globe and Mail
1 comment:
These are comments from the original post that are noteworthy:
'Pay-to-go washrooms are the solution. If you really need to go, you will not quibble over one dollar. That loonie will keep the place clean and the scum out. If you can have clean washrooms in Italian train stations, you can have them anywhere.'
'Why not just do it like most places in Europe, have washrooms with an attendant and you pay a small amount to have access. The attendant would ensure cleanliness and security!'
'As a frequent visitor to the otherwise magnificent city of Vancouver, I am dismayed that SkyTrain is so poorly served by public restrooms and disheartened at the attitude of TransLink authorities. Vancouver needs to apply the experience providing public washrooms along waterfront bike and pedestrian routes (Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, English Bay) to mass transit, the city's circulatory lifeblood.
Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human, or PHLUSH, advocates for clean, safe public restrooms in Portland, Oregon. While we've had success in getting toilets refurbished and innovative Portland Loos installed on sidewalks, our requests for toilets at transit stations have met an equally dismissive response: "We move people," says TriMet.
We need research to demonstrate that a significant proportion of citizens of both cities hesitate to take take public transit because there are no toilets along their routes. Instead they stay in the cars or simply don't stray far from home. This compromises air quality, smart land use, public health, active aging, childhood fitness and the overall urban livability that Vancouver and Portland aspire to.
We'd be interested in hearing from Vancouver activists. Perhaps we can work together to see that the research necessary to inform public policy is carried out. Please visit us at www.phlush.org'
Post a Comment