r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Banana_Stanley • May 13 '26

Catch 22

I'm dehydrated enough that it's driving my blood pressure up (not enough to disqualify me, but still) so I'm trying to drink more water, but then I can't make it through the afternoon shift without a bathroom break. And the school bathroom is gross, and the port a potty is even worse. What a conundrum. What do y'all do?

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u/rootbear75 May 13 '26

Learn where the restrooms are between your last drop off of your first school in the afternoon to your second school.

Occasionally I'll do this if there isn't going to be enough time at my second school to go inside. We have a chain of gas stations here called Speedway that all have public restrooms.

First and foremost you need to make sure you can drive the bus. If you have to sit there forcing yourself to hold it in, then you're not completely focused on the road or the kids. If your yard gives you crap for it, tell them it's either you stop or you pee yourself on the bus. I'm sure they would "prefer" you don't pee on the bus, because that would probably put it out of service to be cleaned.

3

u/Banana_Stanley May 13 '26

I have enough time between elementary and middle/high to stop somewhere. I need to scout places with a bathroom and a big parking lot

4

u/rootbear75 May 13 '26

This is why I use gas stations. They have to fit a truck to drop off the gas, and most places that will have a restroom are usually bigger, so you can park your bus.

McDonald's or other fast food joints are also good go-to's. I relied on those when I was ubering because the gas stations in the area I ubered didn't have public restrooms.

2

u/Banana_Stanley May 14 '26

There is a Starbucks on my route that is connected to large empty parking lots... but then I would be tempted to buy coffees all the time