More bathrooms!

I may be slightly obsessed with the topic, but we need more bathrooms!

When my wife and I went to Proctors Theatre a couple of times in the last month, I was pained by the fact that the guys (e.g., I) could walk past the line of about 15 women waiting to go into the bathroom and got right into the men’s room. When they (e.g., I) came out, there were 20 women in line.

This is so not right.

My church is discussing getting more bathrooms on the main floor, which currently has one unisex bathroom and one women’s bathroom. Every time people visit the church, usually for weddings or funerals, the guys wander around trying to find another loo. There’s a men’s room on the second floor, but there may be more.

Albany Public Library’s Washington Ave. branch needs more bathrooms. I swear it used to have more, but only two unisex rooms exist presently. When one of them is broken down, the line outside the door gets long. One time, a guy got impatient and started pounding on the door. I didn’t share with him that it would have slowed my progress from leaving if I had been in the bathroom and someone was pounding on the door. It’s not unlike what happens when I’m crossing the street with the light in my favor, and some car comes up about three feet from where I’m crossing at the crosswalk and beeps at me; I suddenly become 102 and take forever to get across the street.

The local Dunkin requires a purchase before access is allowed. A recent patron complained, “I have to buy a doughnut so I don’t pee my pants?”

Women’s Soccer

“In October 2023, CPKC proudly announced an agreement with the KC Current for naming rights to the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team.

“Located near downtown Kansas City, Mo., CPKC Stadium is a seven-acre site at the east end of Berkley Riverfront Park. The 11,500-seat stadium opened on March 16, 2024, with the Kansas City Current’s home opener.”

CBS News had a crew there for the National Women’s Soccer League finals a few months ago. They noted that the stadium was sustainable, accessible, and, not incidentally, had enough bathrooms.

Author: Roger

I'm a librarian. I hear music, even when it's not being played. I used to work at a comic book store, and it still informs my life. I won once on JEOPARDY! - ditto. View all posts by Roger

2 thoughts on “More bathrooms!”

Having to teach in other buildings (older buildings then mine) on campus while my building is being renovated has really taught me this.

In one building, there is one restroom (one!) per floor, and if it’s not “your” flavor of restroom,, you have to go up or down at least one flight. In the other building, there are two, but they’re on opposite sides of the building from each other (and the women’s restroom is almost as far as possible from the classroom I teach in). What’s more, there’s a foot-high step to get into them (and back out). Not great with a knee that still bothers me regularly!

I can’t wait to be back in my building full-time, that has lots of well-cared-for restrooms, and drinking fountains that work, and nothing hidden away in strange corners.