Public restroom-be very aware of your surroundings

[TippyThomas]

The trap has been set. Now we wait...

 

[CdnCarrie]

Ugh, I always go with my wife to the bathroom area because I have to hold her purse. Sorry.

Can’t she take it with her? How about if she wants a tampon or a lipstick out of it?

Or leave it at the table with you. Or at the VLT with you? Or the park bench with you?

Why do you have to hold it right outside the washroom?

If I need to go to the washroom I just say “excuse me I’m running to the washroom “ and get up and then return. No need for anyone to follow.
If out walking (shopping centre, theme park) somewhere busy usually my husband/ friends say “I’ll meet you here” - park bench, by water fountain, etc. of course usually in that case my husband says “me too” and we meet up outside the respective washrooms

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I'm so sorry that happened to you! Ever since an incident in the restroom at a concert back when I was a teenager, public restrooms have terrified me. Your husband is so sweet to stand outside and wait for you.

I would look into a self defense keychain, I love mine because it makes me feel less vulnerable. Certain places won't allow all of the components I have on mine so you would probably have to remove anything that could be used as a weapon while at the casino, but mine has an ear piercing alarm button, I make sure to keep it hanging out of my purse on a lanyard in any situation where I feel vulnerable so I can grab it quick but you could also just wear it on a lanyard around your neck, it's really not that heavy especially if you remove the obvious weapons.

 

[White Cat]

The OP has her partner wait because of a safety issue, not for convenience.

What’s wrong with that?

 

[sam_gordon]

Do we really want to go to completely enclosed bathroom stalls in restrooms?
Maybe not so fast...

Why are bathroom stalls designed the way they are in the US anyway?
What were the thought processes for why they are as they are?

https://onepointpartitions.com/blog/2018/05/18/why-are-bathroom-stalls-not-to-the-floor/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642735/reason-public-bathroom-stalls-have-gaps

If you want to know why bathroom stalls don’t go to the floor, you’ve come to the right place to find answers. Here are some of the reasons that justify bathroom partitions not extending all the way to the floor:

The first link didn't work for me. I wonder if they're a manufacturer/reseller of the current stalls. Here are my off the cuff reactions...

• Easier to Clean: By having a gap at the bottom, bathroom partitions are much easier to clean, as is the whole restroom. You can hose down or even powerwash a restroom that has partitions with gaps at the bottom because the water has somewhere to run even if there’s not a drain in a given stall.

So leave a 6"(?) gap. That solves the water flow problems. You're not doing a good cleaning with a mop by using the space below the partition. A 6" gap (can possibly even be 3") takes care of the "overlap" with mopping.

• Emergency Access: If someone loses consciousness in a fully enclosed bathroom, it may take hours for someone to notice. If this happens in a stall with a gap at the bottom, the odds are good someone will notice much quicker, which is important in instances where every second can mean the difference between life and death. Instead of having to break down the door, a first responder can crawl through the gap at the bottom of the partition and unlock the door to render help.

So now you WANT people looking below the stalls? Assuming someone is sitting and they collapse, you may or may not see them when you peak below. As far as breaking down the door, I would hope building management would have some kind of key available to unlock the door.

• Deterrent to Undesirable Behavior: Because people can partially see into a bathroom stall that has a gap at the bottom, this type of partition is a natural deterrent to undesirable behavior, such as someone spray painting the stall with graffiti. A gap also provides just enough of a dent in privacy to make any kind of undesirable public behavior—like sexual activity or drug use—less practical.

Again, this points to WANTING people to peak below the stall. Aside from drug use, the "undesirable behaviors" listed make noise. Presumably they would still be audible with taller partitions.

• More Affordable: Partitions that don’t extend from the floor to the ceiling don’t have to be custom made to fit a room’s exact measurements and they don’t require as many materials to construct. This makes them considerably more affordable.

So money is more important than people's safety. Got it.

• Better Air Circulation: Better air circulation is one of the top reasons why there are gaps under toilet stalls. While restrooms with this kind of partition may still get a bit stinky from time to time, things would be even more overwhelming in a fully enclosed stall.

I've been in plenty of bathrooms where the "short" partitions don't help the smell.

• Keeps the Line Moving: Having a gap at the base of a partition allows people waiting in line to see if a stall is occupied or vacant. This visibility keeps the line moving and prevents wait times from being any longer than they have to be. When a stall isn’t fully enclosed, people often feel like they have to take care of their business even faster, which also helps keep the line moving.

Either adding a door stop (so the door stays open if it's not occupied) or some kind of indicator on the door (heck, porta potties have these) solve that problem.

• ADA Compliance: Space is needed to allow for easier maneuverability for patrons in a wheelchair. The gap allows toe space for wheelchair users which allows more room to move within the stalls. 9″ minimum toe space is required per ADA guidelines.

So make the cubicles a little wider?

• Escape Route: A lock can jam for a wide variety of reasons. If this happens in a stall that has a gap at the bottom, you have an escape route — you can simply crawl out.

Again, building people should have a key.

• Toilet Paper Can Be Shared: If you’ve ever run out of toilet paper and had to ask the person in the stall next to you for a few squares, then you’re already familiar with one of the leading reasons for bathroom partitions not extending to the floor. If you’d run out of toilet paper in an enclosed stall, you may have been caught with your pants down at least figurately!

OK, got me there. Seems a strange hill to die on, but ok.

Additionally, doors that come only part of the way down are universal, meaning that suppliers and installers don’t need to custom-measure them. This saves on costs.

Umm, you can still make the partitions a standard size. Or two standard sizes... say a 10' and an 8' (for rooms with lower ceiling heights).

If you’re still not convinced gaps are a design win, consider that an enclosed stall is going to have only limited air circulation. The last thing you want or need in a public bathroom is to trap odors. It also helps keep loitering to a minimum. (Then again, so would the stench.)

Mentioned earlier.

Remember—if you’re mildly uncomfortable in a public stall, that’s the point. And if you collapse from the fumes of the previous occupant, at least someone will be able to see you.

Aren't most public toilets in Europe the "full stall" version? How do they solve these "problems"?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The trap has been set. Now we wait...

No worries, Tippy, I will answer my own question.

Pea: Like what?

Let’s see.
We’ve had five pages of discussion about bathroom design which started on page 1 of the thread.
How modern US bathrooms are evolving into gender neutral bathrooms.
How bathrooms in Europe and “the rest of the world” make more sense than ours.
Americans were called “prude”. (What would happen here if we slung similar insults about Europeans, or Canadians?)
Excuses for why it would be ok for a man to peer over a stall while a woman was in the act of eliminating.
How it’s “controlling” for a husband to wait outside a bathroom for his wife.
How It’s “sad” that a nearly-elderly, frail, or anxious older woman with a history of ? assault would have concerns about going into a public bathroom in a casino alone. (My what a compassionate bunch we are!)
I research and post WHY our bathrooms were designed the way they were. Made sense to me.

I’m not sure at what point it “morphed into something strange on a few different levels”?
Why page 5, and not, say, page 3?
Just curious.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Aren't most public toilets in Europe the "full stall" version? How do they solve these "problems"?

I'm kind of wondering this myself. I guess one benefit of our doors with the huge gaps is it's easy to kick your way out if the lock sticks, but now I'm wondering what they do in other countries should that happen? I have so many questions

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

How modern US bathrooms are evolving into gender neutral bathrooms.

Why page 5, and not, say, page 3?

I found it relevant given the OP's reaction to a male being in the restroom and the details in the discussion with the security guard. While understandable that feeling, our society is moving more and more towards all-gender bathrooms (and more recognition of gender fluidity) and in many more settings. So if OP and at least another poster (who discussed the legalities) were wondering about the frequency at which they may encounter this same thing the answer is you're going to be more likely to see more inclusive options pop up.

Not weird IMO to discuss that given the details of the OP's story and subsequent comments made. Not to mention the design of the bathrooms that would not allow for peeping over the top in these bathrooms (assuming the airport renderings are more accurate) although to answer your comment from the renderings there were still gaps at the bottom guess we'll see if that's the case

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I found it relevant given the OP's reaction to a male being in the restroom and the details in the discussion with the security guard. While understandable that feeling, our society is moving more and more towards all-gender bathrooms (and more recognition of gender fluidity) and in many more settings. So if OP and at least another poster (who discussed the legalities) were wondering about the frequency at which they may encounter this same thing the answer is you're going to be more likely to see more inclusive options pop up.

Not weird IMO to discuss that given the details of the OP's story and subsequent comments made. Not to mention the design of the bathrooms that would not allow for peeping over the top in these bathrooms (assuming the airport renderings are more accurate) although to answer your comment from the renderings there were still gaps at the bottom guess we'll see if that's the case

Agreed. So what was strange to you?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Agreed. So what was strange to you?

The odds and ends focuses on stuff?? IDK just seemed like between last night and this morning it's gone off into this focus no that focus, etc. Morphed into something strange doesn't mean I agreed with prior topics brought up just that thread went in a way weird track IMO.

 

[DLgal]

I'm hung up on all these women who have their pants down around their ANKLES while they use the bathroom. Mine stay around the knee area...I don't want my clothes touching the bathroom floor! Ew!

Also, ladies, some advice: CROSS BODY PURSES. Seriously. Your bag should always be on your body, even when using the toilet. Don't ever put a purse on a bathroom door hook. It's not secure. Save that for a jacket or shopping bag. You can do your business with a bag hanging off your hip, I promise.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The odds and ends focuses on stuff?? IDK just seemed like between last night and this morning it's gone off into this focus no that focus, etc. Morphed into something strange doesn't mean I agreed with prior topics brought up just that thread went in a way weird track IMO.

Idk, it seems like just about any other thread here to me.

But I’ll be very honest. I’m super disappointed to see so many people jump on the OP for this.

What if this was your (general your) grandmother?

 

[Living42Day]

I would suggest it morphed into something strange at the end of page 1 when it was suggested the man was probably peering into the neighboring stall for innocent reasons before fleeing like a bat out of hell. Or suggesting that it's odd that an adult woman might take comfort in her husband waiting nearby while she uses the women's restroom.

I'm hung up on all these women who have their pants down around their ANKLES while they use the bathroom. Mine stay around the knee area...I don't want my clothes touching the bathroom floor! Ew!

Also, ladies, some advice: CROSS BODY PURSES. Seriously. Your bag should always be on your body, even when using the toilet. Don't ever put a purse on a bathroom door hook. It's not secure. Save that for a jacket or shopping bag. You can do your business with a bag hanging off your hip, I promise.

That's gross, though. Maybe that would be ok with an off-brand purse, but I don't want any of my designer purses touching the toilet or being nearby when toilet particles fly into the air when it flushes. Ew...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would suggest it morphed into something strange at the end of page 1 when it was suggested the man was probably peering into the neighboring stall for innocent reasons before fleeing like a bat out of hell.

That's a fair point. I think everyone could give their own opinion. I was giving mine.

 

[Living42Day]

That's a fair point. I think everyone could give their own opinion. I was giving mine.

I wasn't trying to direct that at you, it was more jokingly referring to the whole thread as a cluster.

 

[Marrila]

I'm hung up on all these women who have their pants down around their ANKLES while they use the bathroom. Mine stay around the knee area...I don't want my clothes touching the bathroom floor! Ew!

Also, ladies, some advice: CROSS BODY PURSES. Seriously. Your bag should always be on your body, even when using the toilet. Don't ever put a purse on a bathroom door hook. It's not secure. Save that for a jacket or shopping bag. You can do your business with a bag hanging off your hip, I promise.

My travel bag is an adjustable shoulder bag. It easily fits over my head and I wear it that way when inside a public bathroom stall. I switch it back to my shoulder before I open the stall door. I wouldn't want something hanging sidewise. It's all personal preference.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m super disappointed to see so many people jump on the OP for this.

I agree there or more like it's surprising I guess. I'm not one to assume controlling though either without further information so when I read that from the OP I assumed it was her comfort level (regardless of why).

In all honestly we women have grown up with the buddy system for the bathroom often enough so while I don't need my husband to stand watch outside the bathroom it may not be all that different than a group of girls going together in the name of "safety in numbers". I remember working at the mall at this one store (that had all girls working there just by coincidence not by hiring practice) and we were always using the buddy system-no one walked to their cars without someone else with them by that particular store's policy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wasn't trying to direct that at you, it was more jokingly referring to the whole thread as a cluster.

Oh I didn't think you were just that I can totally see how people would read the beginning of the thread

 

[kdonnel]

I was at BrewDog in Las Vegas last night and they had a bathroom design I had not seen before in the US.

Ladies on left, men on right, with a common hand washing area in the middle.

My wife and I ended up washing hands next to each other.

 

[Marrila]

I was at BrewDog in Las Vegas last night and they had a bathroom design I had not seen before in the US.

Ladies on left, men on right, with a common hand washing area in the middle.

My wife and I ended up washing hands next to each other.

I've seen kindergarten classrooms (with in room facilities) that have that set up.
Interesting they are using it for adult restrooms.