To be annoyed that the bathrooms are shut?

[blackkitty1234]

I’m six months pregnant and unable to hold it. Was out doing my shopping yesterday only to find the public bathrooms are shut due to Covid. Its happened before when I was picking up food from a restaurant. AIBU to think this is ridiculous? Most people can hold it but some can’t. Spare a thought for the elderly, disabled and pregnant folk. 😠

If they're run by the local authority I'm afraid it's only what I'd expect; round here the commercially managed ones have been open throughtout and the LA version firmly shut (some of them even over the summer)

But that's what you get with a "can't do" mindset

Our local country park is like this. Selling drinks from the cafe window, but the loos are still shut. We have a potty training toddler, so need these either. I'd rather she didn't have to pee in the cold on November if we can avoid it. Why are they still closed months after other things opened?

YANBU.

I took DD to a hospital appointment and she needed the loo, I asked where they were and was told all outpatient toilets are closed due to covid risk. I explained she couldn't be expected to wait until we got home, she's just a kid, and was told that the supermarket across the road has toilets and we could go there. Absolute madness.

This country has shocking public toilets, or lack of. I have medical issues and need to use the toilet regularly and with young kids, it’s not that easy to hold it in. I literally plan my trips around places I know have toilets. The same with baby change facilities.

They need to be open, I don’t understand why they are closed especially as they are places for people to actually wash their hands while out.

It's difficult because those people you identify as needing the bathroom more urgently (elderly, disabled) is also the group that we need to protect the most from Covid.

Inevitably, there is more contact the more public services are open e.g. surfaces, queues outside the toilet etc.

But I totally take your point that holding it is only possible to hold for so long! Plus it makes day trips to local parks/walking areas impossible.

Tough one!

I can see why are you are annoyed but if they can't make it safe for the people who have to clean them then what's the option? Would you be happy to clean a public toilet that had been used by hundreds of people, all from different households?

All the council-managed public toilets are open normally round my area.

This was pointed out by a questioner on one of the daily briefings in about May, and the Health Secretary dodged the question.

YANBU to be annoyed about it, but I am surprised you did not expect it.

I know the feeling, I have severe IBS and the urge can come on suddenly with intense pain. Quite literally a pain in the arse

It has such an impact on people's live though. We managed to get away for a few days in July for a family holiday in the UK. Drive 20 miles, pile out of the car, find the loos shut. We spent a fortune in cafes so we could use their loos. DH's aunt is in her 80s and used to love just going out and walking round the town centres near to her (she lives on the edge of a big city). She can't get out for a walk now as she can't guarantee she won't need the loo whilst she's out and they're all closed. It's so short-sighted.

@KylieKoKo

I can see why are you are annoyed but if they can't make it safe for the people who have to clean them then what's the option? Would you be happy to clean a public toilet that had been used by hundreds of people, all from different households?

If I was a cleaner and provided with the correct PPE then yes I would. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought Covid was spread by air droplets and touching contaminated surfaces so shut the toilets for cleaning, and wear a mask and gloves. I don’t really see how cleaning the loos is riskier than cleaning other areas people have come into contact with.

@KylieKoKo

I can see why are you are annoyed but if they can't make it safe for the people who have to clean them then what's the option? Would you be happy to clean a public toilet that had been used by hundreds of people, all from different households?

Of course.

The likelihood of catching COVID off a surface is minute.

Plenty of councils (ours included) have managed to keep their toilets open just fine

Ours stayed open for a few weeks but they kept being ruined by people... the council posted some really gross photos of them being covered in poo, things stuck down the toilet etc, and asked people to treat them like their own toilet. And then after the third incident or so, they all closed.

I think you can still access the emergency radar toilet, if you’ve got a key, but I suspect it’s too out of the way and that most people don’t know where it is anyway.

@HopeAndDriftWood

Ours stayed open for a few weeks but they kept being ruined by people... the council posted some really gross photos of them being covered in poo, things stuck down the toilet etc, and asked people to treat them like their own toilet. And then after the third incident or so, they all closed.

I think you can still access the emergency radar toilet, if you’ve got a key, but I suspect it’s too out of the way and that most people don’t know where it is anyway.

Wow, that’s grim 🤢

YABVU to call them Bathrooms. There are no baths.

I giggled a bit at bathrooms I must admit, or maybe OP is from the US?

Ours have been reopened for a long time in the parks and shops. There is also a community toilet scheme so restaurants / pubs let you in to use the toilet without having to buy anything (obviously not helpful in lockdown). I have IBS D and not knowing where toilets are and open stops me from going out so I feel your pain.

But on the flip side, would I want to clean public toilets right now, no.

Walking my dog the other day two guys hopped out of a van and peed in the bushes at the side of the road. They apologised when they saw me but said there was no where else.

You are 100% NBU. It is outrageous; people still need the loo! I ordered a RADAR key from Ebay, which has been life changing!

@PuppyMonkey

I giggled a bit at bathrooms I must admit, or maybe OP is from the US?

Lol, no.... I'm from the UK. I have always called them bathrooms.

YANBU. Especially as there is no consistency. Some public places are open and others aren't so you can't guess.

YABU for saying bathrooms though.

@neighbourhoodwitch

You are 100% NBU. It is outrageous; people still need the loo! I ordered a RADAR key from Ebay, which has been life changing!

I will look into this. Thank you!

RADAR keys are for the disabled. Don't buy one if you are not disabled

"It's difficult because those people you identify as needing the bathroom more urgently (elderly, disabled) is also the group that we need to protect the most from Covid."

People who have incontinence issues, or who are disabled might not be at risk from Covid.

Likewise seats have been taken out of use. We threw away the rights of the disabled this year.

The children's activities that have been on have been off limits for girls and others because they can't discreetly piss outside.

@Gancanny our local hospital has all loos open, so this is not a general thing. Of all places where you need an open loo too! It is madness.
My hygienist has shut their loo off. I have an hours drive to get there and I take diuretics. I think it is just an excuse to cut down on wages and cleaning personally.

@KylieKoKo

I can see why are you are annoyed but if they can't make it safe for the people who have to clean them then what's the option? Would you be happy to clean a public toilet that had been used by hundreds of people, all from different households?

Oh for God's sake.