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D.C.-area startup wants to solve the public bathroom problem

washingtonian.com

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Re: D.C.-area startup wants to solve the public bathroom problem

#3

Post by teddyh »

> User IDs are part of Throne’s accountability system: After you use a restroom, you’re asked to rate its cleanliness. Meanwhile, each user gets a “Throne score,” similar to Uber, and repeat offenders who abuse the restroom will be blocked. Weight sensors also track if someone’s been in the bathroom too long. “Very few people create issues in [public] bathrooms, don’t respect that amenity, and then ruin it for the majority. Most people really want and value that clean experience and will leave the bathroom as good as they find it,” Heinzelman says, adding that user IDs are a way to “create the accountability that is currently missing in the shared bathroom space.”

Personally, I consider bathroom facilities which track you personally, and can block you for any reason, not to actually be “public” bathrooms. They’re essentially proposing to put a large number of very tiny private clubs all over a city. I would argue that this is not actually solving the public bathroom problem.

Re: D.C.-area startup wants to solve the public bathroom problem

#4

Post by mxwsn »

From listening to a podcast or two, my impression is that the Public Bathroom Problem is an economic one. There were many paid public bathrooms in the past in the US, but they were deemed sexist and banned. Then cities didn't want to foot the bill, so they closed many of them.

What's this startups' business model?

Re: D.C.-area startup wants to solve the public bathroom problem

#7

Post by MonkeyMalarky »

teddyh wrote: post #3

> User IDs are part of Throne’s accountability system: After you use a restroom, you’re asked to rate its cleanliness. Meanwhile, each user gets a “Throne score,” similar to Uber, and repeat offenders who abuse the restroom will be blocked. Weight sensors also track if someone’s been in the bathroom too long. “Very few people create issues in [public] bathrooms, don’t respect that amenity, and then ruin it for the ma…

Seriously though, accountability is the missing thing. If getting banned for consistently making a mess is what it takes to get public bathrooms back, then so be it. There's no excuse for the shit I've seen. I'm tired of being denied amenities because of other peoples' degenerate behaviour.

Re: D.C.-area startup wants to solve the public bathroom problem

#8

Post by eru »

mxwsn wrote: post #4

From listening to a podcast or two, my impression is that the Public Bathroom Problem is an economic one. There were many paid public bathrooms in the past in the US, but they were deemed sexist and banned. Then cities didn't want to foot the bill, so they closed many of them. What's this startups' business model?

Yes, it sounds like their very business model is banned in large parts of the country.

Perhaps they'll do some 'regulatory arbitrage' like Uber? Ie just operate in what's at best a legal grey area, and then use lobbying and lawyers to legitimise your business model?

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