Free Loo For All
Do you think businesses that don’t sell food and drink should be obligated to provide washrooms for the public? City Councillor Howard Moscoe does. He’s championing a proposal that has been approved by Toronto’s Licensing and Standards Committee and would force stores to grant the public access to their washrooms. City Council will now be examining this topic.
I guess the real issue is who is going to clean these toilet facilities? Many businesses that do sell food and drink and therefore must provide facilities limit the traffic traipsing through their washrooms to paying customers. Presumably part of the purchase price of your item goes toward maintenance of said facility. By increasing the volume, the washrooms will need more frequent upkeep and there won’t be extra cash to pay for the cleaners. We could always go back to the days when you had to pay to use the washroom. Remember that? It would take a dime or a quarter to open the stall door.
What’s your take on this issue? Do you feel comfortable walking into a fast food joint and using the toilet without purchasing anything or do you at least buy a coffee? Do you think you should be entitled to use the washroom at a hardware store or a pharmacy? Many of the big box stores already allow this, but they’re not usually located downtown. And I’m assuming that city councillors, whose salaries are paid by our taxes, already share their washrooms with the public, otherwise it would be hypocritical of them to suggest private businesses must do so. Weigh in on this issue by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is THELOO. It’s valid until July 6th.
P.S. Come out and celebrate Aren’t We Naughty’s 25th Anniversary with me on Saturday, July 5th. I will be at the Brampton location between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. I’ll also have an extra bonus code handy, so hope to see you there. Find out more at arentwenaughty.com.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
My goodness Carly, aren’t you naughty. It just so happens that I’m in the market for a new butt plug. See ya Saturday!
…. I won’t be disappointed if this doesn’t make your blog…hahaha
Carly’s Note: It made my blog. I figure if you wanted me to know, you probably want the world to know.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hi Carly,
Being in the corporate world i generally think you should buy something if you want to use a business’ washroom facilities.
The problem isn’t usually one or two individuals but the compounded effect of multiple users who don’t buy anything. Yech!
Mind you there’s always the time when you’ve drank too much beer or that burrito just didn’t agree with you and well you know the rest….
Don’t some European countries have public urinals, stalls, etc?
Have a great weekend.
Carly’s Note: I have to agree with you. I don’t think just because you run a business, you owe the world a restroom for their business.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Hi Carly I feel comfortable using the washroom and not buying anything. I often do that. Im talking about a timmies or mcd’s, I would not ask to use the toilet at a pharmacy or such. We went to Holland last year and you do have to pay for using the washroom there. Im okay with that if theres someone to clean it each time but paying a euro or two when no ones there is something i dont agree with. I would pay a quarter to use the washroom here but then i expect clean washrooms every time.
Carly’s Note: In Europe, you might be paying for the water that’s used in the toilet. We take water for granted here, but it takes 2-6 gallons of water for one flush.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Are they kidding!? The city hall has public use washrooms, but Howard haas his own, I’ll bet! As for the stores, a pal of mine was in a bank, and his 4 year old, going thru final potty training stage was compelled to go, so they asked the tellers to use the facilities.
They refused.
She really had to go, but still they said no, security issues….
Long story short, the manager was informed they would no longer enjoy the benefits of their buisness, and further, the Head office would be told; and was; about the situation.
They left to a McD’s across the road, toock care of buisness, and went back and closed out all accounts, and moved the mortgage soon after.
But I have been in my mechanics shop kybo, and let me tell you, you don’t want to go there! You thing a lot of small dollar stores are going to have swanky washrooms? Maybe not. Not going there.
And no, resaurants like McD’s are use to the non paying traffic, but in Queens, NYC, I had to ask the cashier to let me in the loo, and since I was in there with a paying customer, I got buzzed in. Security, they said.
Hmmmmmmmmmm….
Carly’s Note: I have had to be buzzed into the washroom at a McDonald’s in Toronto. It wasn’t the greatest neighbourhood, so I guess they were worried about drug dealers and addicts. You can’t really blame them.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Hi Carly,
Yes, I believe you should be allowed to use the washroom anywhere without paying for food or the washroom iteself ….and our family does it all the time. You have a choice, crap or urinate in your pants or on the street, or go in a washroom that is more respectable for everyone. Plus I have kids, they need to go potty at the most un-opportune times and they need a washroom fast - they are not going to be able to hold it until we get home ( this is soo true when you are attending a parade). It is respectful to allow someone to use any washroom. Who knows - an establishment that is washroom generous could be remembered - I may want to eat there when I get out of the washroom, or sometime in the future; I may boast about how generous they were therefore promoting their business. If they give me a hard time, you know very well I will announce my negative experience to anyone many times over (if I am at a parade, my negativity is going to reach a wide audience). ….And don’t have me go fishing for dimes, I won’t be back because then I’ll think the establishment is cheap and it probably “nickels and dimes” it’s customers with food prices and other things. Give me relief !
RiffBoyRob
Carly’s Note: So you wouldn’t consider buying your kids a popsicle in the summer or a hot chocolate in the winter to help out the store? I guess the ideal is to pick a parade spot close to a mall, department store or fast food restaurant where you’re not likely to be refused.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
big box stores - OK
grocery stores - OK
food establishments - OK
every single store - no way!
Is Moscoe kidding? There should be public pay toilets like there are in many European cities…the fee subsidizes the cost of hosing them down.
Carly’s Note: But where do you put them? Real estate downtown is so prohibitive now.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Gosh darn! I can’t make it out to Brampton to see you in sexy lingerie this weekend, Carly! It’s just too far away as I’m in the extreme east end and you’ll be at the extreme west end. Okay, maybe not too extreme, but still. And no bonus code for me either.
That would’ve been the icing on the cake, to meet you AND get a bonus code. Oh well, maybe you’ll do another remote more towards the east next time.
As for washrooms, I guess you have to look at the whole situation a few ways. Sure, you’ll probably have to clean up the washrooms more often if this law passes, but I think it’s better to have to clean a mess in the washroom than a mess in the store. If you’ve got a business and someone’s really gotta go, then you’ll definitely let someone use your facilities, wouldn’t you?
Carly’s Note: You would think, but read Tiberius’ story about the bank. I can kind of understand the security issue, though. In a bank, someone might be planting a bomb or hiding something that could facilitate a heist later on.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi Carly
I always feel guilty walking into a restaurant or fast food joint to use the washroom without buying something. So, if I really gotta go, I pick a bar and then at least I can stop for a pint too.
If you are shopping in any store you should at least be able to use their facilities if you need to….even if you had to pay a dime or quarter…I do remember those days.
I also remember going in to some of these places only to find after you had finished that there was no toilet tissue…can you spare a square..what do you do!!!!!
It was nice to finally meet you on the weekend at Arn’t We Naughty. It was a pleasure to hear that laugh in person and you are such a pleasure to talk to…Jack FM is lucky to have such a personality as yours.
The rest of the team are great too but you are the jewell.
Have a great week.
Gary
Carly’s Note: Good call on the bar! I’ll usually stop at a coffee shop or fast food joint for a tea or an ice cream. The mall and the roadside service centres are the only places I’ll go without buying anything. Regarding the Saturday broadcast, thanks for stopping by! It was a great afternoon.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
You were at Aren’t We Naughty? And I missed it? AAHHHHH!!!!
*sigh*
What? Oh, yeah, public bathrooms. I suppose it’s fine. Sure…
AREN’T WE NAUGHTY! And I missed it!
-S.B.
Carly’s Note: You can always visit them online - arentwenaughty.com!