Going to the bathroom on the side of the road- ever had to?
By sylviekitty
@sylviekitty (2083)
United States
January 20, 2007 11:12am CST
When I was growing up, my family used to go on long road trips up into the mountains, to go camping. Many times, these road trips would last 6 hours or more. My parents did not take a potty chair for the kids to go in, and I'm not sure how prevalent rest stops were back in the mid to late 70's, and early 80's. In any case, sometimes rest stops (and even gas stations) are like a hundred miles or more apart- and when you gotta go, you gotta go.
Have you ever had no choice but to pull over, and use your car as some kind of privacy from passing vehicles, to use the restroom? Or is the thought of this so embarrassing that you would suffer the pain, and wait it out til you found a rest stop or gas station?
18 people like this
57 responses
@momathome (474)
• Canada
20 Jan 07
when i was pregnant i went on a long trip with my husband, i kept telling him i needed to go and the closest place was so far away finally i made him pull over on the highway and i tried to find a hiding place but it was mostly open being that i was pregnant i couldn't wait anymore and just went were i could. cars going by or not i didn't care, when ya gotta go ya gotta go!
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
20 Jan 07
:D That is the worst- when you're pregnant. That is probably the one thing I miss least about it!!
I remember having to go on the side of the freeway/highway, on the way home from a camping trip. Luckily I was right next to a big truck, that was long enough to hide me from other cars (I think).
3 people like this
@sidneysoad (101)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Unfortunately, I've had to do this many times. For a guy, I don't think it would be that big of a deal, but as a woman it is. The worst experience was during an unexpected snowfall when the road was blocked both ways with stopped traffic due to an accident. I wasn't dressed to walk through the snow, so (yes, this is true) I had to pee in a cup! Pretty gross, I know, but when you have to go, you have to go.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I peed in a cup once, as there was no other way. not a baby bottle, though. LOL!
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
21 Jan 07
when we were still kids, we usually visit our grandparents in another province. it usually takes us about 3 to 4 hours by van to get there. and since we were kids, whenever we want to pee, we are vocal about it. and my mom stops along the highway and make us pee along the road. during those years, we don't really care if people look at us while we do it.
but now, we don't do it anymore. we wait until we get to a place where there are public restrooms.
3 people like this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Public restrooms are getting much nicer, as people are keeping them up... but at times, the side of the road is probably more preferable.
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I must admit that I've had to a time or two in my life but not for a very long time. With our son, CJ, though we've had to stop on the side when we moved from state to state.
I was embarrased when I had to go but you just can't help it sometimes and CJ couldn't wait until we reached a rest area; usually he'd have to go right after we passed one. LOL
3 people like this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I'm thinking we should save the potty chair for a while, and keep it in the back of the car, for just in case. LOL
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I know I can't handle being that uncomfortable. And potty training kids, it's not right to make them go in their pull-ups. It defeats the purpose. LOL
@Lovely_Lady (1523)
• United States
21 Jan 07
OMG... I did had this problem a few times while back... lolz... Like you said, 'When you got to go, you go.' Well, however, I usually use the car to block me and my man having a look out but guess what???? The road is a straight way and you can see if cars are coming or not but we were the only car on the road and it was late at night. I didn't care if anyone saw me.. The only thing I fear was getting attack by some large animal. Yes, this was in the forest.. where the road is a distance straight and you can see if someone is coming or not. Freaky but yeah, I did it. lolz... I wouldn't do it again though. Probably just try to hold it as long as I can.
1 person likes this
@soldenski (2503)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Yes I had to do it, I can't hold it too long so I have pulled over and done my thing. My son love's to do it on the side of the road. The thing I do for privacy is I open the front passenger door and also the back one, and go right there.
1 person likes this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Yes, that's a very good idea. And hope your behind isn't down far enough for people to see it or realize what it is. LOL! :)
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
21 Jan 07
My parents used to pull over at least once for us to "go in the woods" every year when we went to the beach. I haven't ever had to do it as an adult. However, I know a very elegant lady who is over 70 years old and an antiques dealer in my area. She disappeared from the line at an estate sale early one morning and when she came back told me that she had to "wee wee in the bushes". She's a lady who has spent a lot of time in Europe and told me that especially in France it's a pretty common thing and doesn't phase anybody.
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
21 Jan 07
In Saigon when I was there in the early 70's you would see old vietnamese women sqatting on the curb holding their pant legs open and doing it right there in front of God and everyone. They made the pants real wide making it easier to pull up the pant legs rather than having to remove them.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Yeah, I've gone on the side of the road so many times I can't count them all! We have held open both car doors on many occassions and stood between them! The funniest thing was at Disney World one year. We were making our way through this huge parking lot. Our car was literally 1/2 mile away. I needed to go so very bad, I was seriously worried about going on myself. My husband and kids said, we'll stand around you, you go. Well I go in between two cars and I'm going to the bathroom. Suddenly my husband starts clearing his throat loudly and the kids snicker...the ownwers of THAT PARTICLAR car show up. I was midstream and couldn't stop!!! It was so very embarrassing!
2 people like this
@ill7ven (49)
• Romania
20 Jan 07
yeah happens once in a while,it`s embaarrassing but you gotta do what you gotta do so to speak:).i`ve learned my lesson.I was 6 years old back then...i was waiting for a girl to get out of school,had a crush on her,she was much older,14 actually.it strucked me and it seemed so embarrassing to go and leak behind a tree so i decided to try and hold it...and i couldn`t...the rest u can imagine.From that age i`m letting my embarrassment beside!
3 people like this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
20 Jan 07
LOL! I'm sure that was embarrassing! thanks for sharing. :)
@dragonmojo (103)
• United States
22 Jan 07
If you literally mean the side of the road (not off to the side, as in several yards from the asphalt), then, not quite. I have pulled over after seeing some shrubbery or thick of trees, or a small hill which shields you from traffic. Since I do most of my travelling by motorcycle, I have to be extra careful how I choose my route and how I regulate my fluid intake. With a car, you can use the doors as modesty panels. My worst situation was a ride from Salt Lake City, UT toward Wendover, NV (the Bonneville Salt Flats). Vegetation does not grow in salt! Those 70 miles were a barren stretch of interstate (I-80) surrounded by either side with plains of white salt.
I am more careful these days.
1 person likes this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I imagine a motorcycle isn't much privacy..not unless you're a very small man? :P
@grayangel (274)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I had to go very badly when moving to from CA to AZ and we had to stop on the side of road there were no cars in sigh! Whew! I unzip and start to go and what happens! Massive amounts of fly by!
1 person likes this
@jtmblossom (470)
• Philippines
21 Jan 07
I've experience that. But i have no choice then coz the places we travelled to has no public rest room. I had to wait for 5-6 hours to pee on the destination.That's why when i go on a long travel,i dont drink too much water coz it makes me use toilet every now and then.that's the technique i can share to travellers.
1 person likes this
@curried (49)
• South Africa
21 Jan 07
I have done this before. I'm not ashamed to say it. While traveling by car in the desert it would be another two maybe three hours and I would never have made it anyway. That was a number two.
But i've done the side of the road thing, the tree thing, the pavement thing as well. Basically, i'm a guy. I feel the urge, find a quite spot and let nature takes it's course.
@kalyan856 (102)
• India
21 Jan 07
Long trips intend to make us use the side of the road as a bathroom...
1 person likes this
@incomes1987 (156)
• Nicaragua
21 Jan 07
wait. I always try to conatin myself from doing it but if can not resist more, my only option is to do it in that moment whenever i be.
It is good to know that your family like healthy trips. A lot of people has lost taht costumes already, but it is something beautiful we can share to our future generation. Stay with the nature
@abhiquest (579)
• India
21 Jan 07
I think privacy is the main issue here. If you can find a private place with not much passersby around, you can take a break and get relieved. But often while in open place and with people around it becomes difficult and then you are in real trouble.
It happened once with me, I was on a crowded road and it really took me long to search for a bathroom. I had to talk to around 15 unfamiliar faces on that day and it felt so embarassed. But then there was no choice. Fortunately I found one!
