Drivers of for-hire vehicles pushed the City Council for relief Monday through a proposed law that would allow them to park in commercial spaces when nature calls.
More than 82,000 drivers go behind the wheel daily on city streets for app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, according to Taxi and Limousine Commission data, but advocates say those motorists often find themselves strained by a citywide shortage of relief stands and restrictions on parking in spaces marked “COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ONLY” — especially when they need bathroom breaks.
“We’re not looking to clog up the commercial parking,” said Brendan Sexton, president of the Independent Drivers Guild, which represents Uber and Lyft drivers. “We just want them to be able to go in and out, use the restroom, get some food, pray, stretch — whatever drivers need to do for those 30 minutes.”
Dozens of drivers rallied outside City Hall prior to a meeting of the City Council’s transportation and infrastructure committee on Monday, calling on lawmakers to approve a bill introduced in August 2024 by Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) that would authorize licensed for-hire vehicle drivers to station their rides in unoccupied metered spaces for up to a half hour, four times a day.
“Everyone loves the convenience of innovation, but we forget about the human beings behind these apps,” Brannan said. “Whether it’s the food-delivery workers or the ride-share app drivers, these are human beings behind the technology of convenience and it’s important that someone looks out for them.”
Drivers who work for the app-based ride-hailing companies completed close to 20 million trips in June, according to TLC data, but found themselves limited to 70 relief stands, mostly in Manhattan, that are shared with traditional yellow taxi drivers. There are another 42 stands for taxis only.
Berkis Bera, who has been picking up passengers for app-based ride-hailing services since 2019, told THE CITY she has repeatedly had to make uncomfortable choices while working in order to avoid the possibility of being ticketed for parking illegally.
“I don’t have another option but to grab my cooler inside my car and open it up,” Bera said. “I look in all directions and do what I need to do.”
App-based driver Berkis Bera speaks at a City Hall rally ahead of a hearing on legislation that would allow them to use commercial spaces when they need a break, Sept. 15, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Drivers would be required to feed the meter under the proposed bill, reducing the odds of being ticketed for parking illegally while on a food or bathroom break.
“Right now, the driver either has to park illegally, take a ticket and wipe out half a day’s pay or drive to another area to find a parking spot, use the bathroom and drive back in, losing about an hour and a half worth of time to work,” Sexton said.
In testimony before the City Council, TLC and Department of Transportation officials said they are working to expand the number of locations where for-hire vehicle drivers can park. But they also acknowledged potential hurdles.
“I encourage the members of the committee to recommend additional locations to both TLC and DOT,” said David Do, TLC commissioner and chairperson. “At the same time, the administration recognizes that more dynamic curb management must not jeopardize access by commercial delivery trucks or parking meter operations.”
Dr. Paul Tallaj, chief medical officer for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, pointed to a shortage of safe, sanitary public toilets across the city, adding that a lack of restroom access is especially acute for drivers who work 10- to 12-hour shifts behind the wheel. He said that drivers who hold off on going to the bathroom carry medical risks that can include urinary tract infections or dehydration that can lead to kidney stones.
“I care for professional drivers across New York City and see firsthand the preventable medical harm caused by the simple lack of reliable bathroom access and the fear of being ticketed for addressing basic human needs,” he said. “This is not theoretical, New York City itself has acknowledged that public restrooms are scarce and often unusable.”
Tallaj pointed to the Council’s approval in April of a citywide strategy to increase the number of public bathrooms. There are approximately 1,100 public toilets for more than 8.6 million residents and the Council is aiming to nearly double that number over the next decade.
Ajaya Bishwakarma, who drives for Uber and Lyft, said more access to restrooms can’t come soon enough for vehicles of for-hire vehicles.
“It’s a health issue,” he said. “Very bad, very bad.”
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