Paying for public bathrooms

Do you have specific Neighborhood(s) in mind?

All of NYC

Which group(s) does your idea focus on? Select as many as apply.

Youth

Older Adults

People with Disabilities

Immigrants/ Migrants

Parents

Unhoused People

Describe the challenge you want to address:

There are not enough public bathrooms, and I highly doubt the city will be building more. I know people with IBS who struggle to navigate the city, having to pre-plan where bathrooms will be or choosing to fast rather than have to deal with the problem. This is just one example of New Yorkers who need more bathrooms.

What is the solution to the challenge?

Leverage bathrooms that already exist. In Europe, it is very common to have clearly marked bathrooms available for a small fee (approximately a dollar) all over the place. The fee goes towards paying for a bathroom attendant and keeping the bathroom clean. I understand this is not the ideal solution as using a toilet should be a public amenity and having to pay disadvantages low income and unhoused people, but this would be a step in the right direction at least. The city should help businesses make their bathrooms available to the public for a small fee, and this might be helpful for businesses in increasing their foot traffic and sales.

Please provide your Zip Code

10021