Monday, February 1, 2021

No Place To Run To No Place To Go

 


What is it with Vancouver, and practically every other major city in North America, that they can't provide enough decent public toilets? It's a universal human need that has existed since humans started living together yet it's been systematically ignored as if it will somehow just go away. But it's not going away, and every day we put off addressing the issue only adds to everyone's frustration as they try to hold it in.

The deteriorating homeless situation in Vancouver magnifies this problem with thousands of people now living in makeshift camps, tents, and doorways that of course have no washroom facilities. This means they end up using playgrounds, private gardens, parks, or the streets and alleys to relieve themselves.  An absence of public toilets means an absence of hygiene. 


The Vancouver Parks Board does have a variety of public washrooms in most but not all of its parks but they aren't open 24/7 and they are geared towards people using the parks themselves. Some are more appealing than others both in terms of appearance and cleanliness but most are in need of a serious upgrade. Their average age is over 60 years old and their outdated design offers poor accessibility, comfort, and safety to anyone using them.

The public transit situation is even more shocking. There are more than 50 stations along the rapid transit route alone and not one has a public washroom and, of course, there are no toilets on the trains themselves. With rides that can easily last over an hour this can make for a very uncomfortable situation for some passengers but clearly Translink doesn't care about its customers either.


The cost of maintaining public washrooms is often cited as an excuse for doing nothing and lately there have been some efforts to bring in automated self-cleaning toilets that even offer advertising as a way of offsetting the cost. But the high cost of these overengineered toilets ($500,000.00+) and the fact they were too comfortable and thus attracted people wanting privacy for doing drugs and engaging in prostitution was one reason Seattle got rid of the ones they had originally purchased. 


Another solution (at least as a temporary one) would be to install a network of Porta-Potty or Honeybucket style chemical toilets throughout the city and at every Skytrain station. Self contained units that don't require any plumbing connections, they can be placed just about anywhere and the contractor is responsible for all the cleaning and emptying of the sewage tank. However, at approximately $200.00 per day per toilet the cost is quite high.


Enter the Portland Loo. This simple, indestructible design that discourages it being used for anything except what it's meant for, prevents crime, is easy to clean and maintain, and is inexpensive to operate. For these reasons it's catching on with cities everywhere. At approximately $100,000.00 each we could have two of these at every Skytrain station for $10 million and for another $10 million spread 100 of them around key locations in the City which would more than double the public washrooms we have now.


The Portland Loo is just one example of how the lack of public toilets could be addressed and maybe it would finally get the politicians to say to the people that it's worth adding say 1% a year to the property tax bill to pay for something we all need. For larger facilities we could even have a design competition that added more esthetics and style. But whether it is a utilitarian solution or something grander we can't stick with the status quo where there's no place to go.

3 comments:

  1. Excellent article. This situation is long overdue. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mumbai Escort is a bright city known for sky-rise engineering and wonderful female Mumbai Call Girls Service. Mumbai accompanies are acclaimed worldwide for giving top notch escort administrations. Here's a Mumbai escort office, my escort Mumbai that presents to you the most excellent, gifted, provocative, hair-raising MUMBAI CALL GIRLS who are consistently at your administration. my escorts Mumbai has been serving individuals in Mumbai for longer than 10 years and has been recorded as one of the debuts MUMBAI CALL GIRL SERVICE.
    Mumbai Call Girls Service
    Andheri Call Girls Service
    Bandra Call Girls Service
    Borivali Call Girls Service
    Byculla Call Girls Service
    Chembur Call Girls Service
    Colaba Call Girls Service
    Dadar Call Girls Service

    ReplyDelete
  3. You will be snared and wouldn't have any desire to get back to your home. Try not to stand by any further, you will get a kick out of the chance to visit her in Mumbai consistently. You should simply peruse the site for more data. Offering anybody, anyplace, a demonstrated fulfillment opportunity that enables individuals to accomplish their total degree of fulfillment and wants. You can confide in Mumbai CALL GIRL, we fulfill many clients in Mumbai. agreeable partner in one, so we select our Escort young ladies group cautiously, they are Life is a shuffling act and Mumbai excellent escorts energy and administrations will help you handle whatever comes your direction. Receive the well known mitigating rewards of our administrations taking all things together scope of engaging magnificence of your decision.
    Saki Naka Call Girls Service
    South Mumbai Call Girls
    Versova Call Girls Service
    Worli Call Girls Service
    Thane Call Girls Service
    Santacruz Call Girls Service
    Zeroing in on clients' extraordinary necessities and giving individual regard for help accomplish their cravings. Simply pick your number one model from the display of CALL GIRLS MUMBAI and your fantasy will coom soon. Kindly don't spare a moment to pose any inquiries. It's the Mumbai CALL GIRLadvantage. We are attempting to help individuals make a triumph out of their picked hot and sizzling escorts. Here at Mumbai Escort, we will make an honest effort to make your blessing from heaven. If it's not too much trouble, call us to book CALL GIRLS Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete