By Wayne Persky |
RSS Feed As pointed out in a Washington Post article, those of us who have MC, or some other IBD, are not the only ones who have to worry about the proximity of the nearest available bathroom whenever we leave our own home (Lazo, 2023, September 8).1 It's a serious problem for people who have certain medical issues, expectant mothers, older people, and homeless people. It's also a problem for parents who have children with them.
In 1970,
the U.S. Census showed the population of the country to be 203,392,031. According to a Yahoo! News 360 article, in 1970, there were approximately 50,000 public bathrooms scattered across the U.S. (Bebernes, 2023, September 6).2 That calculates out to almost 25 bathrooms per 100,000 residents.
Currently,
the U.S. has approximately 8 bathrooms per 100,000 residents. Of course the population has grown to 340,349,234 (on the day this was written, September 10, 2023). If we still hand those 50,000 public bathrooms, we would have approximately 15 public bathrooms per 100,000 residents. But instead, as the need for public bathrooms has increased, due to the increase in medical issues today, and the aging population, the number of public bathrooms available today has declined to about half that amount. There are only approximately 8 public bathrooms per 100,000 residents in the U.S., today.
Why the big decrease?
As pointed out in the Yahoo! article, many of the toilets that disappeared were coin-operated, and they disappeared as the result of a campaign promoted by the argument that no one should have to pay to meet bodily needs. But building new public bathrooms, and maintaining them, costs money, and they became even more expensive to build and maintain after the legislature passed the Americans With Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act.
The U.S. Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and it became law in 1990. A section of the Act imposed numerous requirements in the construction of bathrooms, with huge fines for noncompliance. But the legislation contained no provisions to compensate private industry for the added expense of accommodating the legal requirements.
Instead, the ADA requires that the employer provide the accommodation unless to do so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business. Not only did that clause not encourage the future construction of public bathrooms, but it almost surely had a negative effect on businesses with existing bathrooms that would need to be extensively remodeled in order to meet the requirements of the law. Consequently, the number of available public bathrooms continues to dwindle in the U.S., and will probably continue to do so until the government decides to step up and foot the bill, or at least, a significant part of it.
Instead, the ADA requires that the employer provide the accommodation unless to do so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business. Not only did that clause not encourage the future construction of public bathrooms, but it almost surely had a negative effect on businesses with existing bathrooms that would need to be extensively remodeled in order to meet the requirements of the law. Consequently, the number of available public bathrooms continues to dwindle in the U.S., and will probably continue to do so until the government decides to step up and foot the bill, or at least, a significant part of it.
The same Yahoo! article describes why eliminating pay toilets was a mistake.
While the concept of paying to use toilet facilities may seem cruel to some, those same individuals certainly wouldn't expect farmers or supermarkets to provide them with free food. Surely, paying a small fee is better than not having the option. Price controls limit supply without limiting demand, and when a maximum price of zero is mandated, supply eventually disappears. And to add to the problem, over the decades, local governments have outsourced their duties to private companies.
City councils continue to defer addressing the public toilet issue due to problems associated with drugs, crime, and cost.
Problems associated with sanitation, drug use, homeless people, vandalism, and other issues associated with public bathrooms in many areas, tend to deter city council members from addressing the problem. And the fact that public bathroom construction can cost as much as $1 million these days, doesn't make the prospect of building public bathrooms any more appealing.
Cities desperately need to resolve all the associated problems, so that they can focus on providing public bathrooms. And the federal government needs to step up and subsidize some of the expenses involved with constructing and maintaining public bathroom facilities. After all, bathrooms in coffee shops, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and other businesses are not actually public toilets.
Cities desperately need to resolve all the associated problems, so that they can focus on providing public bathrooms. And the federal government needs to step up and subsidize some of the expenses involved with constructing and maintaining public bathroom facilities. After all, bathrooms in coffee shops, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and other businesses are not actually public toilets.
Public toilets date back at least to the Roman Empire.
And according to a Scripts News article, for centuries, they were common in the U.S. and elsewhere (Scripps News Staff, 2023, August 15).3 But public bathrooms originally were actually public, and they offered no privacy — there were no barriers between them. The concept of privacy in public bathrooms was initiated in the 1800s, during the industrial revolution.
And as the understanding of sanitation requirements regarding waterborne diseases progressed into the 1900s, cities built and actually bragged on how much they spent on their public toilets. But these public bathrooms were segregated, and over the years, increasing controversy, and other social issues, began to accumulate and detract from the incentive for cities to build and maintain public toilets.
And as the understanding of sanitation requirements regarding waterborne diseases progressed into the 1900s, cities built and actually bragged on how much they spent on their public toilets. But these public bathrooms were segregated, and over the years, increasing controversy, and other social issues, began to accumulate and detract from the incentive for cities to build and maintain public toilets.
Businesses are converting their once "open to the public" bathrooms, to "customers only", or "employee only" status.
A Food & Wine magazine article points out that Starbucks' CEO decided to close Starbucks' bathrooms to public use, and restrict them to customers only (Mims, 2022, July 29).4 And, as the article points out, when New York City experimented with pay toilets in 2008, the project was a complete flop, so the idea was abandoned.
What about public bathroom availability in the rest of the world?
The New York Times recently published detailed information on the availability of public bathrooms in various countries of the world (Miller, 2023, March 23).5 For example, the city of Berlin increased their public toilet count from 256 to 418 in 2022 by filling in gaps that needed facilities.
Also in 2022, the City of London introduced an affiliation option whereby for a small fee, various businesses and restaurants could list their toilets on London's website. By doing this, and using window signs to advertise their bathrooms, business owners assumed that the practice would attract customers, and London gained many bathrooms that are open to the public.
The downsides of these two approaches are that using Berlin's toilets costs about $0.50, and those additional toilets in London are only available when the businesses are open. But at least, the cities are trying to do something about the shortage.
Also in 2022, the City of London introduced an affiliation option whereby for a small fee, various businesses and restaurants could list their toilets on London's website. By doing this, and using window signs to advertise their bathrooms, business owners assumed that the practice would attract customers, and London gained many bathrooms that are open to the public.
The downsides of these two approaches are that using Berlin's toilets costs about $0.50, and those additional toilets in London are only available when the businesses are open. But at least, the cities are trying to do something about the shortage.
Unlike Americans, Asians expect their public restrooms to be clean.
From 2015 to 2017, China experienced what has been called the "Toilet Revolution", during which more than 68,000 toilets were built, with a government directive to keep toilets clean.
In Tokyo, toilets have become a form of public art.
In a new program, the Nippon Foundation sponsored the design of 17 toilets. One of the designs, for example, is based on a white hemisphere with glass walls that turn from clear to opaque when the door is locked. A partnership of the Nippon Foundation, the Shibuya City government, and the Shibuya City Tourism Association will keep them clean and maintained. Presumably, decisions on whether or not to scale up the project will depend on the success (or lack of it) of the initial designs.
New construction in America is plagued by the NIMBY syndrome.
Construction of public projects, especially, is often delayed for years, and even postponed indefinitely, because of the “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) syndrome. As the New York Times article points out, the U.S. seems to have more problems with politics. Apparently, the main reason why the New York City 2008 pay toilet installation project was a failure, is because the city was only able to install 5 of them, even though it originally purchased 20.
The Department Of Transportation was in charge of selecting the installation locations, but because of the long list of requirements that it had to meet, presumably, 15 years later, it's still taking suggestions for where to place the other 15 toilets. With such well-developed qualifications (the ability to postpone making a decision for years), those individuals are wasting their talents in the Department of Transportation — they're clearly qualified to occupy seats in the House of Representatives, or the Senate of the U.S. government.
The Department Of Transportation was in charge of selecting the installation locations, but because of the long list of requirements that it had to meet, presumably, 15 years later, it's still taking suggestions for where to place the other 15 toilets. With such well-developed qualifications (the ability to postpone making a decision for years), those individuals are wasting their talents in the Department of Transportation — they're clearly qualified to occupy seats in the House of Representatives, or the Senate of the U.S. government.
Walking to school in San Francisco was a risky adventure.
School kids in the tenderloin district complained that they were having to step around feces when walking to school. So in 2014 San Francisco began the Pit Stop program. 33 locations in 13 neighborhoods are now open, with paid attendants, during working hours, and phoned-in complaints in that district have significantly declined, while they have escalated in other parts of the city.
In 2008, Portland, Oregon adopted the design of a simple public toilet.
Known as the Portland Loo, and designed to be vandal proof, it's a gender neutral, wheelchair accessible, single stall bathroom with a $100,000 per unit cost. The lighting is blue, which makes finding veins difficult, in order to discourage drug use.
The Portland Loo is available across North America, and in 2018 Vancouver, Washington installed 3 of them, and they've worked so well that the city intends to order 3 more. The city of Philadelphia is also planning to install 6 Portland Loos in the next 5 years, so hopefully, progress is being made (although, at a snails pace).
For comparison purposes, the availability of public toilets at various locations in the world can be assessed at the following URL:
https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/the-public-toilet-index.html
The Portland Loo is available across North America, and in 2018 Vancouver, Washington installed 3 of them, and they've worked so well that the city intends to order 3 more. The city of Philadelphia is also planning to install 6 Portland Loos in the next 5 years, so hopefully, progress is being made (although, at a snails pace).
For comparison purposes, the availability of public toilets at various locations in the world can be assessed at the following URL:
https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/the-public-toilet-index.html
And finally, here are some suggestions that should be helpful for locating bathrooms open to the public.
Note that the following list was created entirely as the result of an artificial intelligence (AI) search, and the accuracy and integrity of the suggestions in the list haven't been verified, although the information appears to be valid.
1. Mobile Apps: There are various mobile apps available that can help you find nearby public bathrooms. Some popular ones include Flush, SitOrSquat, and Bathroom Scout. These apps provide user-generated reviews and ratings for bathrooms in different locations.
2. Online Maps: Online mapping services like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Bing Maps can be helpful in finding nearby public restrooms. Simply search for "public restrooms" or "toilets" in the map search bar, and it should display the locations of nearby facilities.
3. Public Facilities: Look for public facilities such as parks, libraries, train stations, bus terminals, shopping malls, and restaurants. These places often have public restrooms available for use.
4. Visitor Information Centers: When you're in a new city or town, visitor information centers or tourism offices are great resources for finding public restrooms. They usually have maps and information about nearby facilities.
5. Public Restroom Signs: Keep an eye out for signs indicating public restrooms. These signs are often found in public parks, along highways, or in busy areas such as tourist attractions or city centers.
6. Ask Locals: If you're in an unfamiliar area, don't hesitate to ask locals for directions to the nearest public restroom. They can provide you with the most up-to-date information and may even suggest hidden gems.
1. Mobile Apps: There are various mobile apps available that can help you find nearby public bathrooms. Some popular ones include Flush, SitOrSquat, and Bathroom Scout. These apps provide user-generated reviews and ratings for bathrooms in different locations.
2. Online Maps: Online mapping services like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Bing Maps can be helpful in finding nearby public restrooms. Simply search for "public restrooms" or "toilets" in the map search bar, and it should display the locations of nearby facilities.
3. Public Facilities: Look for public facilities such as parks, libraries, train stations, bus terminals, shopping malls, and restaurants. These places often have public restrooms available for use.
4. Visitor Information Centers: When you're in a new city or town, visitor information centers or tourism offices are great resources for finding public restrooms. They usually have maps and information about nearby facilities.
5. Public Restroom Signs: Keep an eye out for signs indicating public restrooms. These signs are often found in public parks, along highways, or in busy areas such as tourist attractions or city centers.
6. Ask Locals: If you're in an unfamiliar area, don't hesitate to ask locals for directions to the nearest public restroom. They can provide you with the most up-to-date information and may even suggest hidden gems.
Notice that the AI search results listed above missed two of the best options.
The navigation systems available in most automobiles can be used to locate rest stops, gas stations, or other public facilities that may provide bathrooms. When traveling the highways, for example, there are 644 Love's Travel Stops available in the U.S., and they have a reputation for maintaining very clean bathrooms, plus the advantage of being open 24 hours a day.
Don't overlook truck stops, in general.
Note that there are over 40,000 truck stops available in North America, and presumably, every one of them has private bathrooms complete with showers. Many people assume that they are reserved for truckers, but in fact, they can be used by anyone, and they may be especially convenient for someone who has had an unfortunate "MC accident" while traveling. Truck stops (and their bathrooms) are open around the clock.
Portable toilets can come in handy in "emergency" situations.
As another option, note that portable toilets that can be carried in automobiles are available at sporting-goods (camping supplies) dealers, ranging in design from simple to relatively complex. They can bring peace of mind when traveling in unfamiliar territory. RVs, of course, provide bathroom facilities, and much more, for travelers
And last, but not least:
When the chips are down, and no other option is available, there's always the safety net of wearing Depends, although that's one of the less elegant solutions.
References
1. Lazo, L. (2023, September 8). Public restrooms are hard to find in America. That’s a problem. The Washington Post, Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/09/08/public-restrooms-hard-find-comic/
2. Bebernes, M. (2023, September 6). Why is it so hard to find a public bathroom in the U.S.? Yahoo! News 360, Retrieved from https://news.yahoo.com/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-a-public-bathroom-in-the-us-183700033.html
3. Scripps News Staff. (2023, August 15). Where Do You Go When You Gotta Go? America's Public Bathroom Shortage. Scripps News, Retrieved from https://scrippsnews.com/stories/why-public-bathrooms-are-so-rare-in-america/
4. Mims, P. O. (2022, July 29). Why Is It So Hard to Find a Public Bathroom? Food & Wine, Retrieved from https://www.foodandwine.com/fwpro/the-fine-art-of-finding-a-public-bathroom
5. Miller, J. A. (2023, March 23). Why Are Public Restrooms Still So Rare? The New York Times, Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/business/public-restrooms-bathrooms-us-city.html
