Rideshare drivers show support for NYC bathroom expansion

Nearby the 231st St. No. 1 train station, rideshare drivers idling at a taxi stand spoke in support of a citywide plan to expand access to public bathrooms. Multiple cabbies echoed the same point — that expanded access is critical to addressing a daily challenge that often forces them into difficult choices, including risking parking tickets while searching for a restroom.

The drivers’ voices come as Mayor Mamdani announced in January that the city will commit $4 million to expand public bathroom access by installing at least two dozen modular toilets across the five boroughs. The initiative is intended to address longstanding complaints about the city’s limited and unevenly distributed public restroom network.

Drivers who wait for ride requests along the busy Bronx corridor said the lack of public bathrooms affects how long they can stay logged into their apps and how they move through the neighborhood. Without reliable facilities, some said they drive out of high-demand areas to look for restrooms, only to return to tickets on their windshields or miss ride requests altogether.

“You pull over somewhere quick just to use a bathroom, and when you come back there’s a ticket,” said Ahmed, an Uber driver who frequently stages near 231st Street and asked not to share his last name. “You’re already losing time and money, and then you’re paying for it too.”

Others said they avoid stopping altogether, especially in areas with strict parking enforcement, even when they urgently need a restroom. Several drivers acknowledged that, in those situations, they urinate in bottles inside their cars.

“It’s either that or take a chance and get fined,” said Luis, a full-time Lyft driver who requested to omit his last name. “No one wants to do that, but the city doesn’t really leave you another option.”

Under Mamdani’s plan, the New York City Economic Development Corporation will issue a request for proposals within the administration’s first 100 days, seeking bids to install modular, above-ground public toilets that can be deployed more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional facilities. Modular units do not require extensive sewer or water connections.

New York City currently has nearly 1,000 public restrooms, about 70 percent of which are located in parks and close overnight. For a city of more than eight million people, that amounts to roughly one public restroom for every 8,500 residents, according to the mayor’s office. Restaurants and cafes often restrict restroom access to customers, and gas stations are not always nearby or willing to allow bathroom use.

For rideshare drivers, who said they often work eight- to 12-hour shifts without access to a fixed workplace, the lack of restrooms has practical and financial consequences.

“You’re trying to follow the rules, not block traffic, not park illegally,” said Muhammed, who asked not to share his last name. “But when there’s nowhere to go, you end up getting punished anyway.”

He noted that expanded public bathroom access would ease those pressures and allow drivers to work without worrying about fines, lost income or basic needs.

“It’s a simple thing,” he said. “But for people who work on the road all day, it would make a huge difference.”