Where did all the public bathrooms go?
Public bathrooms are a surprisingly complex mirror of societal values, their disappearance reflecting shifts from public health initiatives to commodified bodily functions. This JSTOR Daily article traces their history from ornate Parisian pissoirs to their current scarcity, influenced by everything from temperance movements to LGBTQ+ history. Hacker News discusses the societal implications, contrasting Western decline with international examples and debating who is to blame for the 'tragedy of the commons' that is the modern public toilet.
The Lowdown
The article delves into the fascinating and often overlooked history of public bathrooms, exploring their evolution and ultimate decline, particularly in Western cities. It begins by recounting how 19th-century Paris, driven by public health concerns like cholera, introduced the ornate, male-only pissoir as a solution to widespread public urination.
- Early Public Urinals: Parisian 'pissoirs' were introduced in the mid-1800s as a response to public health crises and a ban on public urination, evolving from hostile architecture ('empeche pipi') to somewhat elaborate, if minimally private, structures. They were designed for men only, reflecting societal norms of the time.
- Unintended Social Hubs: These urinals quickly became unintended meeting spots for men seeking same-sex encounters, utilizing their relative privacy. This led to police surveillance and blackmail, highlighting how users reshape public spaces beyond designers' intentions.
- American 'Comfort Stations': In the United States, the temperance movement championed large 'comfort stations' to provide alternatives to saloon restrooms, aiming to reduce alcohol exposure. Paradoxically, this led many private businesses to close their own facilities.
- The Great Decline: Prohibition further slowed public restroom construction, and existing facilities fell into disrepair. Today, the article argues, bodily privacy has become a 'purchasable commodity,' forcing people to rely on businesses or face public health and legal consequences.
The piece concludes by framing the current scarcity of public restrooms as a historical outcome, turning a fundamental human need into a transaction and posing a significant challenge for urban dwellers.
The Gossip
The Peril of Public Provisions
Many commenters attribute the decline of public restrooms (and other public amenities like water fountains and trash cans) to a 'tragedy of the commons' scenario, where misuse by a 'bottom quintile' or 'antisocial people' (often homeless individuals or drug users) makes maintenance infeasible. This leads to facilities being shut down, penalizing the majority for the actions of a few. Others push back, arguing that such 'antisocial' behavior is often a symptom of deeper societal failures, like housing crises and lack of social safety nets, rather than an inherent flaw in public provision itself.
Global Commode Comparisons
Hacker News users frequently compare the state of public restrooms in Western countries to those in Asia and other parts of the world. Countries like Japan, China (especially post-Xi Jinping's 'Toilet Revolution'), New Zealand, and Australia are praised for their widespread, clean, and often free public facilities. In contrast, Europe and the US are often criticized for their scarcity and poor condition, with some noting the prevalence of paid toilets in certain European cities and syringe disposal units, indicative of other social issues.
Economic Excrement Quandaries
The economic aspects of public bathrooms spark debate, particularly around the efficacy and fairness of charging fees. Some argue that a small fee (€0.50-€1) helps cover cleaning costs and deter misuse, making facilities viable. Others contend that charging creates a barrier for the most vulnerable and can lead to public urination/defecation elsewhere, while also pointing out the high transaction fees for micro-payments. The historical 'Committee to End Pay Toilets in America' is cited as a well-intentioned, yet potentially counterproductive, movement that contributed to the current situation by removing a revenue stream for maintenance.
The Human Cost of Scarcity
Several commenters, including those who have experienced homelessness, emphasize the critical importance of accessible public restrooms for basic human dignity and survival. They highlight how the lack of facilities forces people into unsanitary practices and can lead to legal troubles, challenging the idea that closing bathrooms solves social problems. The discussion points out that facilities like libraries often become de facto shelters and washrooms for the homeless, and that the 'problem' of public hygiene merely shifts from designated spaces to public streets and parks.