21–30 of 93 posts
Only in America: Door knob so you cannot use your sleeve to exit sanitarily. Also obligatory fluffy and sticky floor mat is missing.
Public bathrooms are such an interesting public services issue. In some places it’s totally normal to pay a small fee, and in return you (usually) get a clean space. In other places, the idea of paying to use the bathroom is considered an offense against the public. Years ago when I was in New York often, I had the idea to make a paid bathroom app, with a bit of a luxury twist. You’d pay $30 or whatever a month to ha…
Also, what is the public commons that's being eroded in this scenario? Public toilets are few and far between but also kind of don't seem like a commons. I'd imagine a commons is something like a fishery or something. Pretty easy to control access to toilets. They have doors and as most European countries have proven, you can charge for the access to those doors.
https://restroomarchive.com/r/2026-08-29-grand-army-plaza-au... > has a countdown timer above warning visitors that the door will auto-open in x amount of time. A toilet that has a door with a countdown seems like the most stress-inducing thing ever.
It's quite common in Europe. Usually you get 15 minutes which seems fairly generous.
https://restroomarchive.com/r/2026-08-29-grand-army-plaza-au... > has a countdown timer above warning visitors that the door will auto-open in x amount of time. A toilet that has a door with a countdown seems like the most stress-inducing thing ever.
It's quite common in Europe. Usually you get 15 minutes which seems fairly generous.
https://restroomarchive.com/r/2026-08-29-grand-army-plaza-au... > has a countdown timer above warning visitors that the door will auto-open in x amount of time. A toilet that has a door with a countdown seems like the most stress-inducing thing ever.
It's quite common in Europe. Usually you get 15 minutes which seems fairly generous.
Public bathrooms are such an interesting public services issue. In some places it’s totally normal to pay a small fee, and in return you (usually) get a clean space. In other places, the idea of paying to use the bathroom is considered an offense against the public. Years ago when I was in New York often, I had the idea to make a paid bathroom app, with a bit of a luxury twist. You’d pay $30 or whatever a month to ha…
I thought this sort of thing was what CEPTIA successfully campaigned against? Also, what is the public commons that's being eroded in this scenario? Public toilets are few and far between but also kind of don't seem like a commons. I'd imagine a commons is something like a fishery or something. Pretty easy to control access to toilets. They have doors and as most European countries have proven, you can charge for the…
And I think public access to toilets, at least in NYC, should probably be something more like the subway system than a service just for those that can pay a lot. Even then, the subway isn’t really a life need in the way a toilet is. (Yes I’m aware that it costs money to ride the subway, but it’s not very expensive.) I can imagine the service I described being branded by the press/public as bathrooms only for the rich.
As I said, norms around this aren’t the same around the world. It’s normal to pay for a toilet in Europe but many Americans have a negative reaction to the idea.
https://restroomarchive.com/r/2026-08-29-grand-army-plaza-au... > has a countdown timer above warning visitors that the door will auto-open in x amount of time. A toilet that has a door with a countdown seems like the most stress-inducing thing ever.
It's quite common in Europe. Usually you get 15 minutes which seems fairly generous.
Public bathroom sinks are always way too small. Google Maps should integrate with this service to incentivize larger sinks.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I thought this sort of thing was what CEPTIA successfully campaigned against? Also, what is the public commons that's being eroded in this scenario? Public toilets are few and far between but also kind of don't seem like a commons. I'd imagine a commons is something like a fishery or something. Pretty easy to control access to toilets. They have doors and as most European countries have proven, you can charge for the…
Yeah I’m sure there would be a regulation against it, and you’d need to brand them as rest centers or something. And I think public access to toilets, at least in NYC, should probably be something more like the subway system than a service just for those that can pay a lot. Even then, the subway isn’t really a life need in the way a toilet is. (Yes I’m aware that it costs money to ride the subway, but it’s not very e…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_to_End_Pay_Toilets_i...
Only in America: Door knob so you cannot use your sleeve to exit sanitarily. Also obligatory fluffy and sticky floor mat is missing.
It's actually everywhere. Europe is full of door knobs. We're trying to make sure that everyone touches as many surfaces as possible. Next step would be tongue operated doors and switches.
Gemini: You've spotted a real historical and geographical divide. Door knobs are predominantly an Anglo-American standard, while lever handles dominate continental Europe, Scandinavia, and much of the rest of the world.