Has Anyone Ever Used the Bathrooms at Motorgate Garage?

As a parent of young children I continue an obsession over access to public bathrooms on Roosevelt Island. I was walking back to our apartment the other day when a mother with three school age kids stopped me by the Main Street bridge ramp asking me where the closest public bathroom was.

I pointed her to the bathrooms on the second level of Motorgate Garage but stated I was not even sure they were open. I also told facilities farther North and at Trellis in case they were not or if she found them not to her liking. Us parents are fussy that way. I will be honest I would rather my kids pee behind a tree as opposed to how some bathrooms get. Occassionally the bathrooms near the Octagon Soccer field and the Garden Club get that bad but are usually ok.

Recently there was a piece in the NY Times Complaints column about parents using trees and bushes as bathrooms for their kids and I agree that should be a last resort.

The addition of the new public bathrooms up by Lighthouse Park was great news. the provision of a port-a-john at Riverwalk Commons during Roosevelt Live has been a life saver. I noted another port-a-john by Firefighter's Field. Unsure if that is RIOC or Zog Sports sponsored. Luckily the Tram station bathrooms are close by.

As the post title states has nayone used the bathrooms in Motorgate? If they are actually closed that leaves the central part of Roosevelt Island without a true public restroom. Trellis gets used as such but that is not really fair to Trellis.

Come to Roosevelt Island But Make Sure to “Go” Before Leaving Manhattan or Queens

A few of my friends when visiting Roosevelt Island have asked where there is a public bathroom on this Island. My usual reply is there are none. In truth I know of only one but I have never tried it and it’s all the way up by the Octagon Gardens across from the Fire Department Special Operations Command. I actually have no idea if it's even unlocked.

On days that I have been in the playgrounds (Al Lewis, The Castle, or Manhattan Park) with my kids and nature called to them I usually have had them use the porta-potty discreetly. When I have had to go I have either high-tailed it back to our apartment in Northtown or scurried into Trellis. So far Trellis has been good about these trips.

As reported in The Main Street Wire within an article or two or perhaps it was a letter to the editor I know I saw indications that the NY Public Library’s bathroom is off limits to all but their staff and they have been known to tell young mothers with children to go to Trellis. Now again Trellis has been good about this but try rushing down those stairs with a toddler either walking or carrying them and you are looking at a disaster.

With the opening of the Visitor’s Center I began wondering where all our expected guests are supposed to "go". I am not sure what the policy is but the bathrooms at the Tram station are usually locked. The tram staff has taken pity on the occasional parent of a toddler in need but that cannot be counted on and tourists don’t even know where these bathrooms are generally. These bathrooms are clearly marked but when you exit the Tram most folks walk off the platform heading away from the bathrooms.

It appears to me that if we want to be seen as tourist friendly we need to start planning on keeping the Tram bathrooms open to the public or we better buy a stand alone toilet like those currently employed at Greeley and Herald Square Parks in Manhattan.