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Toilet Trouble: Your Right to a Restroom

Erik P. / Zefa / Corbis

Pursuing a public discourse on public toilets

Ceri Au’s recent article in Time underscores the underground topic of America’s unease concerning public restrooms. As the president of the World Toilet Organization (yes there is one) Jack Sims puts it,

“People go [to the bathroom] six times a day, yet they can’t talk about it. We are in a state of denial that we are toileting beings,” states in the article. “We need to make toilets a mainstream subject.”

Sims is looking to turn toilet talk into dinner conversation. While a taboo subject, public sanitation practices have their own arena of knowledge, technology, and challenges.

Three issues in particular stand out:

Lack of public facilities in America
Ignorance of public toilet laws
Lack of public discourse

Who hasn’t at one time or another been restless for a restroom, lingered in the long line of a lavatory, or teetered above an unsanitary toilet?

How long have you had to wait?

Like many issues, the availability public restrooms is more important to some in their daily lives than others. The American Restroom Association (yes there’s one of those too) lists those with special toilet needs on their website, including:

Middle age women
Pregnant women
Parents touring with young children
Children in School
Some wounded Combat Veterens
Men suffering an enlarged prostate
Those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Wheelchair users
The Elderly

The aging population of Baby Boomers might bring this issue ‘to a head’ without the proper potty providence. Au’s article reports that the Centers for Disease Control studies even suggest that a lack of restrooms inhibits the exercise habits of seniors. “No washroom, no workout.”

With men taking 30 seconds on average to use the toilet and women 90 there is a public potty parity of unequal amenities.

Yet even when there is a nearby toilet, ARA co-founder Steven Soifer points out:

“Ninety-eight percent of Americans don’t know the laws regarding the use of public toilets and 80% of businesses do not know”

Ever entered an establishment when nature calls only to be confronted with a sign that looks like this?

or this?

Okay, just kidding with the second sign.

Still, many businesses and employees are ignorant of the law, illegally posting signs to prevent customers or visitors from using their facilities, in violation of building codes.

Most States have adopted comprehensive consensus code requiring public restrooms for everyone. Au writes that in “New Hampshire, denying entry to a bathroom is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $1,200 fine.”

“We don’t talk about [public restrooms]. And what we don’t discuss, we can’t improve” says Sims.

This seems to be a fairly acknowledged problem.

The American Restroom Association notes on their website that

Our society will freely discuss almost anything. However, mention of a spastic colon will quiet a room.

I would speculate that mentioning a spastic colon in most societies would quiet most rooms.

So what can YOU do to help address the pettily prevalence of public pots? First is awareness.

Concerned about the accessibility and sanitation of public facilities? You can peruse the ARA website and checkout the Bathrom Diaries. Aussies have it easier with a national public toilet map (yes that exists as well). Organizationally-minded? The WTO is accepting applications. They’re even having a summit!

Fret not if you miss the summit, the movie is coming soon. Endorsed by the ARA, Garden Thieves Pictures advertises that ‘Toilet’ began filming in July, 2007 - The purpose of which is to ‘explore the idea that public restrooms in America are missing, obsolete, not funded, non-existent.’

‘Toilet’ executive producer Casey Callister shares the concern of Jack Sims, Steven Soifer, and many others:

I find it intriguing that in Japan you can find a public restroom in bar districts, tourist attractions, beaches, etc….but when in America, I often have to buy a pack of gum or a cup of coffee to go to the restroom. I have to carry a big stick with key or I have to get a special token to go and do natures work.

Ensuring Americans have adequate access to public restrooms is clearly a growing issue.

At minimum, ‘toileting beings’, mark your calendars:

World Toilet Day is November 19th!