HEED CALL OF NATURE

Cities are remarkably adept at catering to the wants and needs of citizens. They build roads, transit systems and bike lanes to move people around. They fund police and fire services to keep residents safe while recreation centres, parks and libraries exercise and enrich bodies and minds.

Yet, when it comes to the most basic of bodily functions — urination, defecation and menstruation — cities too often pretend that these biological needs don’t exist, at least, not away from home.

Whether it’s genteel sensibility, logistics or cost, toilets haven’t historically been considered an essential part of urban design, as necessary and routine as sidewalks or streets. Considerably more attention and investment is paid to potholes than potties, despite the fact that not everyone drives, but everyone needs to go.

People with health conditions such as diabetes, Crohn’s and colitis, colorectal cancer, Celiac disease, pregnant or menstruating women, young families, seniors — and really, at times, any one else caught by the untimely call of nature — need access to clean and safe public washrooms to avert discomfort and embarrassment. It’s unreasonable to expect private businesses to meet this public need; most bar their facilities except for customers and not everyone can afford a pricey latte.

Providing a place for the homeless to relieve themselves with dignity is a function of a caring and inclusive society, but it’s not just their problem. There have been complaints about Rogers Place patrons relieving themselves in the streets. Similar problems exist in the entertainment districts of Old Strathcona and downtown. River-valley users are also calling for washrooms.

When there’s nowhere to go, people tend to go anywhere. And that’s a threat to public health.

To its credit, the City of Edmonton is looking to fill this need with a citywide portable public washroom pilot project.

Temporary washrooms have been installed at locations including Commonwealth Stadium, Silver Berry in the south east, and Michael Phair and Beaver Hills House parks downtown, as part of a test run that began in 2017.

It concludes in October and findings will be used to inform a public washroom strategy.

It’s important to get this right. Public toilets may sound like a simple amenity, but failures in Edmonton and other cities show that vandalism, drug use, lack of maintenance, wonky technology and winter weather are challenges.

Without regular cleaning and maintenance of the washrooms, the noblest intentions fall short if no one uses them.

It’s time the city answers the call of people heeding the call of nature.