‘What are they supposed to do?’: TTC drivers say closed bathrooms leave them with no places to go amid COVID-19

As if going to work every day in a global pandemic wasn't difficult enough, TTC drivers say they're now facing an additional hardship: not being allowed to go to the washroom.

In pre-COVID-19 days, Toronto's bus and streetcar operators had informal arrangements with coffee shops, gas stations and other businesses along their routes that allowed them to park their vehicles and sprint inside to use the facilities when nature called.

But since the outbreak began, drivers say businesses have stopped letting them in. Transit workers say that can be more than a mild inconvenience.

One bus driver who works in Toronto's east end said that before the pandemic, operators on Steeles Avenue routes would regularly stop at a fast-food restaurant at Middlefield Road.

"Everyone knows us in there, but because of (the pandemic) now they've completely locked us out," said the driver, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because TTC management hadn't authorized her to speak to media.

"Gas stations " they've shut their doors to us as well. When we walk in they're like, 'no, sorry, no, it's not happening.'"

The TTC driver said she'd been refused access to washrooms three times since the city began to go into lockdown over the outbreak about two-and-a-half weeks ago. As a result, she's tried to be more conscious about using the washroom at the subway station before she starts her route.

"Then I just cross my legs and kind of hope nothing happens. It's a health concern at this point," she said.

Her message to store owners is, "have a heart, we're all human. We're moving the city for you guys," she said.

While thousands of public and private sector workers have been asked to stay home during the pandemic, TTC operators are still on duty. City and TTC officials say they need to keep the transit system running so residents employed in health care and other indispensable sectors can continue to get to work.

Roland Beaudet, an executive board member with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents about 12,000 TTC employees, said he understands business owners are concerned about the spread of COVID-19. But in some cases, TTC drivers have no choice but to take mid-route bathroom breaks.

Most routes connect with subway stations, which have facilities for employees. But longer routes can take an hour or more to drive each way, meaning a bus operator might have to wait more than two hours to get back to the station.

"What are they supposed to do? Soil themselves? Wear Depends? It's getting a little ridiculous," Beaudet said.

He said not being able to access a washroom in a timely manner could pose health risks for drivers, and passengers could be endangered as well if operators are distracted or racing to get to the end of their route.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the agency is aware of the problem, which he noted has also affected workers like delivery drivers. He said some establishments that used to allow transit employees washroom access have closed or moved to drive-thru-only service since COVID-19 forced a shutdown of all but essential businesses.

Green said the TTC was addressing the issue by placing portable toilets at "strategic locations" that had been identified in consultation with employees.

"That is a work in progress," he said.

On Monday, Mayor John Tory made a direct plea to business owners along TTC routes to show some compassion to transit workers.

He said bus and streetcar drivers "are serving us at a time when we need them to serve us, and we need to help them as they carry out their duties."

"I would ask that if you are one of these businesses that are still open that you accommodate these employees, these public servants, who are doing tremendous work for us to keep the city moving," he said.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr