I always want to
discuss this issue, but it seems like a lame topic, and nobody usually cares to
listen. I say, “Can I just tell you how much I hate the public restrooms?” and
people pretty much look at me like I have a screw loose. I’m not saying I don’t,
I just think that this may be a pertinent issue to discuss.
Public restrooms are disgusting enough, even if they are
kept very clean. I’ve always felt that one should need to touch as little
surface area as possible. People think of
restrooms as “accessible” if they have a handicapped stall and free floating
sinks against the wall with pull up space. “Yay!” they say, “Everyone is happy
now.” This is definitely not “yay”, and
I am not happy. Nobody thinks about the regular stalls and how grossly close the
quarters are.
Here
I am in the mall with my arms full of bags, and I go into a stall with bad
lighting, bang my arm and the bags against the stall wall that looks smeared
with some kid’s spit soaked fingers, and curse. My jeans practically wipe the toilet
bowl as I back up enough to get all the way into the stall and close the door.
Then I’m already practically sitting down because there is no space to stand
while I attempt to hang my bags and purse on the single hook that’s screwed
precariously on the door. By then, I already feel disgusting and flustered as I
try to unroll some toilet paper which someone has inevitably refilled upside down,
so the “clean” part of the roll is resting on the nasty metal receptacle that
has a trash can attached with some I-don’t-wanna-know-what-the-hell-that-is
poking out if it. By the time I wipe off the toilet seat, get a liner down and
actually start peeing, it’s been 5 minutes and my fiancé is starting to wonder
if I fell in.
We
need to reset the minimum standards for “accessible” public restroom stalls! I
never use the handicapped stall unless it is an emergency or all that is
available, because as uncomfortable as I feel in a regular stall, it’s
obviously impossible to get a wheelchair or crutches in there. Sometimes, there
is a second stall that is larger, but not quite large enough for a wheelchair.
Those are my favorite, and those should be the minimum requirement for every
stall’s dimensions. I’m 5’6, and 125 pounds. I’m not a particularly large individual,
and I feel like a bulky bull in a China shop every time I go into a standard
minimum dimensioned bathroom stall. I
could understand if this was only in older facilities, but even new buildings
seem to include this gross oversight.
What
happened to Universal Design? Universal design is true accessibility, and I
thought it was supposed to be the new standard! Let’s go over these 7 design
principles and marvel at how much a public restroom stall does NOT adhere to
them.
1. Equitable
Use- The design must be usable and marketable for ALL.
2. Flexibility
in Use- Again, for all. There is no flexibility in a space that a skinny person
can’t even turn around in.
3. Simple
and Intuitive- The design must be easy to use regardless of any physical or
mental barriers.
4. Perceptible
Information- The area must non-verbally or literally communicate enough
information so that everyone knows how to use it. This may be the only standard
that it masters.
5. Low
Tolerance for Error- It is highly possible that I’ll inadvertently bump against
the trash receptacle and get an STD. Awesome.
6. Low
Physical Effort Required- By the time I’m done trying to turn around without
falling into the toilet, hang my bags up and lock the door, I’m exhausted.
7. Size
and Space for Approach and Use- Um, obviously inadequate.
Please, dear building
code writer, help us.
