To the Editor,
New York City Transit President Richard Davey announced that his agency would be testing an odor-detection system in 353 elevators within 472 stations. The system would send out an alert when a urine-adjacent aroma is identified. Riders urinate and sometimes even defecate in elevators, at the end of platforms and other discreet locations inside subway stations, due to the lack of open, safe-working bathrooms.
Funding for his “odor-detection system” would be better spent reopening all 130 existing bathrooms at 70 of NYC Transit’s 472 subway stations that remain closed. Add the installation of more bathrooms as part of future station renovation projects for those that have no pre-existing restrooms. Have former station agents no longer staffing token booths periodically inspect elevators. They can notify station cleaners when encountering urine and feces in elevators for immediate cleanup. Reopening secure, safe subway station bathrooms with adequate supplies of toilet paper, soap and hot water would be one way to keep elevators from smelling of urine.
Access to a public restroom should be a basic human right.
Larry Penner
