Not just for paying customers: Why this B.C. shop owner believes more businesses should make washrooms public

A bike shop owner in British Columbia's Interior is calling on other business owners to make their washrooms publicly available to anyone who needs them — something he's done for several years now. 

Travis Fehr said he was moved to make a difference after reading a letter to the editor in the local newspaper that aimed to shed light on Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month, which falls every November.

Fehr told CBC's Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce that the writer described how Crohn's had changed his life, "and one of the things he said is that finding access to public washrooms was very difficult."

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by an inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which can make people need to use the washroom often, and with little warning. 

Other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome and urinary incontinence, as well as menstruation, can also cause an urgent need for a washroom. 

While he's always allowed people to use the washrooms in his Breathe Bikes store in downtown Merritt, B.C., over the eight years he's been in business, Fehr decided to make his open-door policy more public, so that anyone in the neighbourhood who needed a washroom knew where they could turn, and posted his policy on Facebook.

While he hasn't heard yet from any other local businesses doing the same, he said several people have thanked him for his kindness. 

"It was a bit of an outpouring, and an eye-opener for me, about how many people are dealing with this on a daily basis. The word 'humiliation' came up a lot. A lot of the stories were talking about how people just end up staying home most of the time, or they plan meticulously."

Paul Kilbertus, senior manager of communications and public relations for Crohn's and Colitis Canada, said such stories are common among people who suffer from invisible illnesses like Crohn's. 

"Anxiety about accidents is real," he said, adding that finding a washroom fast is the top priority for many and the organization is happy to hear of Fehr's initiative. 

Kilbertus says people can also use the free Crohn's and Colitis Canada app called GoHere, which maps out public access washrooms based on the user's location or their planned route. 

While Fehr understands other businesses might be hesitant to open their washrooms to the public because of fear of things like vandalism or drug use, he said this is a matter of supporting people in need.

"For eight years I've had an open door policy and haven't had an incident," he said. 

"I'm not going to say that it's a perfect world and there's never an incident. This is just a human thing that we share. I think it's worth whatever effort it takes."