In the Big Apple, the battle for parking is as fierce as the one for a Broadway ticket, but the search for free restrooms is even fiercer. Now taxi drivers have launched a truly “urgent” appeal. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers–NYSFTD–has asked the city’s appropriate commission to allow drivers to park freely so they can use a restroom. It’s not exactly a revolutionary idea, but given human needs, certainly a necessary one, yet it has sparked a heated debate.
The association’s spokesperson, Fernando Mateo, emphasized that the lack of parking spaces puts drivers in a difficult position, especially those with urgent physiological needs, who are forced to stop in the middle of busy Manhattan, risking much heavier fines for “indecent exposure” when they cannot find an available facility.
Mateo also reported that many drivers suffer from health problems, such as diabetes or kidney diseases, and need to stop frequently, yet they are penalized for doing so. Therefore, a solution is proposed: a special sign that would allow parking in double rows or loading areas for at least ten minutes, just enough time to “run” to the bathroom.
However, the Big Apple has other plans. While finding a restroom in the metropolis is still quite complicated, Mayor Eric Adams has promised to renovate or build 82 new public restrooms in the next five years.
Meanwhile, the Taxi and Limousine Commission TLC, has announced that it is in “discussion” with the Department of Transportation to identify areas where new “rescue stands” for livery vehicles could be created, where drivers can finally “satisfy” urgent needs without fearing a fine. However, public transport advocates, such as Danny Pearlstein of the Riders Alliance, an American organization defending public transport users’ rights, warn that the possibility of parking anywhere should not become a license to block bus stops or lanes.
In an urban setting like New York, even the “10-minute” bathroom solution, which might seem the most humane, is not yet entirely feasible as it would no doubt contribute to the already impossible traffic jams. In the meantime, taxi drivers will face a choice: wait for the promised restrooms to be built or continue navigating the urban jungle, collecting fine after fine.
