Female bus drivers in London are suffering from a lack of toilet facilities, with some reportedly bleeding through their uniforms and having to buy new clothes during breaks, according to a former driver who quit her job over the degrading conditions.
Former driver speaks out
Antonia Pugh-Thomas, 56, resigned from her position as a bus driver last Friday, citing the inadequate facilities and a hostile environment for women. She told MyLondon that female colleagues have been forced to endure the humiliation of bleeding through their trousers and seats because they cannot access a toilet in time.
“I’ve spoken to female drivers who’ve not been able to get to a toilet on time so have bled through their uniform and straight through their seat,” she said. “They then have had to spend their entire 40-minute break trying to buy new clothes in order to carry on working.”
Routes without facilities
An investigation by ITV News London revealed that six bus routes across the capital have no toilet facilities at all. However, Dylan Carroll, who runs London Bus Forums, believes the number could be as high as eight after conducting his own research.
Drivers are often forced to go for up to three hours without using a bathroom, making it particularly challenging for women, especially during menstruation or menopause.
Heat and dehydration
During the record-breaking heat this summer, drivers have been reluctant to drink water to avoid needing the toilet. Compounding the issue, a significant number of buses have faulty air conditioning, leading to cab temperatures reaching 40-45°C (104-113°F).
Ms Pugh-Thomas, who is post-menopausal, said managers dismissed her concerns about heat intolerance. “I’m in my mid-50s and post-menopausal, so my temperature gauge is completely different. A lot of my managers looked at me like I was making this up,” she said.
Campaign for better conditions
MyLondon has launched the “Back Our Bus Drivers” campaign to highlight the inhumane conditions and pressure Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) to act. The campaign calls for solutions to fatigue, safety, lack of toilets, and faulty air conditioning.
Mayor Khan has expressed support for the campaign and has instructed TfL to review whether current safety laws are adequate. However, he has not yet committed to a proposed “Bill of Rights” for drivers, introduced by Assembly Member Keith Prince in early July.
TfL response
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s director of buses, said: “Bus drivers play an essential role in keeping the capital moving. Alongside bus operators, we take their safety and welfare seriously, and we rightly require operators to meet high standards.”
She added that TfL is working on measures to improve working conditions, health, and wellbeing, and regularly engages with Unite the Union on these matters.
