Metro Vancouver senior lobbies TransLink for public washroom at Waterfront Station

A senior fromNew Westminster, B.C.,is lobbyingTransLinkto add a public washroom at one of Vancouver's busiest transit hubs Waterfront Station.

"When people come into Waterfront Station there are no public washrooms unless you are using the SeaBus," said Catherine Nelson.

"I want universally accessiblepublic washrooms in this major transportation hubin paid fare zones."

SeaBus users have a washroom in the paid fare zone, but that doesn't help Nelson and others who use the Canada, Expo or Millennium lines.

Their only option is to go to a nearby A&W restaurant.

"Certainly Iguess people can use the A&W if A&W is ok with that," said JaneDyson,executive director of the Disability Alliance of B.C.

"But I think that this should really be a public service, and there are many cities in the world that provide 'public conveniences,' as they say in England."

TransLink told Nelson it's aware of the problem but says washrooms haven't been installed because of cost and safety concerns.

"The challenges of providing washrooms in public spaces is something cities and transit agencies grapple with around the world," according to TransLink spokesmanChris Bryan.

Nelson says, in the meantime, she'd at least like to see a sign letting transit users know there's no public washroom.