Partly it's because so many public toilets have closed due to funding cuts to local councils - half of them have gone in ten years - and partly it's because time-honoured inhibitions about public behaviour are lapsing.
If you're in a city centre, there will be shops with toilets. But if not, what are you supposed to do if you're desperate? You'll resort to any place where you don't think you're observed and let rip.
Obviously it's behaviour that most people find disgusting and anti-social, but what alternative is there when public toilets are rapidly disappearing? Are you supposed to pee in your pants? Are you supposed to knock on someone's door and ask to use the toilet? Are you supposed to stay at home?
At the same time people are less inhibited about their behaviour in public and more likely to just do as they think fit. When I was growing up peeing in public was totally taboo but that taboo has lapsed a bit in the meantime, along with taboos about audience behaviour, not cheating in exams, blatant lying and all the rest.
Westminster Council in London is trying a new deterrent - hydrophobic paint. It's water-repellent, meaning that anyone who pees against it will get splashback on their trousers and shoes. Of course people who're blind drunk probably won't even notice the splashback, but it's worth a try.
No chance at all of getting more public toilets. The British government is cutting public services to the bone, which means more toilet closures, not less.
That paint was tried out in Paris some years ago....as you suspect the blind drunk did not notice and as they were the main 'clients' the experiment was abandoned. Living in France the public peeing was a commonplace - given the state of the public loos, mark you, it was probably safer to keep away from them - dark, insalubrious and slippery as they generally were.
ReplyDeleteYou do just wonder whether parents still demand of their offspring that they go to the loo before leaving the house.....childhood training has stood me in good stead over the years which is just as well, given the paucity of public loos.
Helen: Going to the loo before leaving home is obviously wise, though if you're out for a long time (and drinking a lot) you might still need the loo again. It doesn't surprise me that the Paris experiment didn't work out.
DeleteI’ve never heard about a lack of toilets here. I don’t think there are public toilets per se in the downtown areas, but every retailer and restaurant has one, plus the libraries. I suppose the homeless have the worst time of it.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Good that you don't have a lack of toilets. Is that because they're private ones with an admission charge? Charge-toilets are still quite rare here.
DeleteI’ve never seen or heard of a charge toilet in the U.S. That was a shock to my son when he’s traveled in Europe.
DeleteBijoux: Interesting that there aren't any charge toilets in the US. Very sensible.
DeleteLike Bijoux, most shops, restaurants, and libraries have toilets here and all are free. Although some require you be an actual customer to use them. Gas stations have toilets, too, but they often make you come to the cashier to get a key to use them. There are no truly public toilets here except in some larger parks.
ReplyDeleteLinda Sand
Linda: In the UK you're expected to be a customer to use toilets in shops etc. Sometimes you need to ask for a code to enter the toilet.
DeleteIn all my years of travelling, I often used McDonalds, et.al., and bought a courtesy cup of coffee on exiting.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: It's fine if you're somewhere with lots of shops, restaurants etc. But if you aren't, you're in trouble.
DeleteLet them piss. Needs must. Remember the good old days not so long ago when morning's chamber pots were emptied out of windows, and horses relieved their intestines as they walked the cobbled streets? (As an aside: Don't you think it peculiar that precisely in those times women wore long skirts/dresses? I don't want to think about the fallout on hems.)
ReplyDeleteMy grievance that men have it so much better. They can do it standing up. Find a tree, a war memorial (if so drunk you don't know what you are doing), you name it, the world is your pissoir. Woman? Find a bush to hide behind. No mean feat inner city. In the meantime cross your legs, try not to laugh and, most definitely (trigger warning), don't run a water tap.
However, and this comes in handy should you ever find yourself stranded in the desert or a boat without rudders on the pacific (salt water), drinking your urine may be your saviour. And before any of you say anything: Urine is actually sterile as long as it's (relatively) fresh.
U
Ursula: Personally I would never pee in a public area, but then I can go quite a few hours without needing a pee. However I've been known to have a pee in an isolated spot when I'm hill-walking.
DeleteMary says "Are you talking about porta potties? The only public toilets we have here are the ones in fast food restaurants and shops. Most places won't let you use their toilets unless your a paying customer."
ReplyDeleteMary: No, I mean public stand-alone toilets, provided by local councils. From what you say, there's no such thing in the States.
DeleteI'm so tired of this government, treating us all like a herd of mice getting in the way of whatever it is they want to have and do.
ReplyDeleteJenny: Well said. They're determined to pursue their own weird agenda however objectionable it is to the rest of us.
DeleteI remember as a child my dad would pull to the side of the road in a desolate rural area for everyone to take a quick pee. We've become so populated now, it would hard to be discrete.
ReplyDeleteWe have a huge problem with social norms being lost in the States. I'm lucky to live in an area where you can use most public business restrooms. Public washrooms are limited to some highway stops and government buildings. People who publicly urinate would receive a ticket.
Ann: I also live in an area with plenty of toilets in coffee shops and restaurants. But if you're somewhere without such facilities, you can be a bit stuck.
DeleteYou are right, every adult I have seen peeing in public are men. Hopefully they stop this habit and allow people enjoy the streets without the roads smelling so bad.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.melodyjacob.com/
Melody: Changing men's engrained behaviour is an uphill task. But the fact is that it's disgusting.
DeleteReading this, I was reminded of an article I read which talked about a new design for public urinals. I'm pretty sure it was a garden/ urinal combination. Anyway, I have done a quick google search and can't find it but I think the idea of a garden that can be legitimately peed in works quite well (for men)
ReplyDeleteOf course, keeping existing toilets open would probably be an even better idea
Found it:
Deletehttps://www.dezeen.com/2020/08/20/greenpee-sustainable-urinal-planters-amsterdam-design-news/
Kylie: I just checked the link. That's a really clever idea - no mess on the streets and lots of water saved because no flushing needed. But I'm not sure I would use one if I'd still be visibly peeing.
DeleteA lack of public toilets can be a problem. We do not have any in the downtown areas of Nashua, NH. While we do have many restaurants and grew houses, you need to be a customer to use the facilities. I have seen the potable bathrooms in many park areas, but most are so disgusting that I would rather wait then use one. It's a bit easier for my husband.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: Grew houses? What are they? Yes, public toilets are good in theory but in practice as you say they may be pretty unedifying.
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