To think that disabled toilets with a radar key should always be free?

[troobleflooble]

I have a disability that sometimes requires the urgent need to use a toilet. I am not able to hold it for very long and it sometimes makes leaving the house quite difficult. In order to make sure I have more access to toilets I have a radar key, I also have a 'can't wait' card from the bladder and bowel society.

Annoyingly a lot of public toilets in my area have been changed to ones that charge 20p to use. I don't have a problem with this in general as I understand that a lot of public toilets in more rural areas are not run by the council anymore and are funded by small local parishes with limited budgets. Obviously someone has to clean, maintain and stock the toilets with paper etc and this charge covers these costs. All fine. But aibu to think that the disabled toilets should be exempt from this?

There have been quite a few times when I am in desperate need and don't have any change on me, as many people don't these days due to cash being gradually phased out. None of the toilets I've seen take card payments (which I would be happy to pay with if I had the option) and the locks have obviously been changed to ones that don't work with the radar keys.

Aibu to think that even if a toilet block is generally pay to use that the disabled toilet should be exempt? They could keep them locked so only people with a radar key could get in, that would at least mean that people who really had the need for one could access one.

Easy answer: bag of 20p coins from the bank

Complicated answer: chase up with radar and charity, start a campaign.

I think if you’re regularly getting caught out then might be worth always making sure you have 20p on you as you know you’re likely to need it.

I don’t think they should change it from a radar key as that defeats the purpose of having it/frustrating if you can’t find someone to unlock it for you but I think if charging 20p for non disabled loos then fine to charge it for disabled as well.

It sounds like the issue is you getting caught without change which can be easily rectified.

While I agree with you in theory given how easy it is to get radar keys I think it would just lead to people using the disabled toilets even more making things harder for people like you.

I pay cash as self service machines and keep change for loos and parking. Just keep 20p pieces with the key?

I don't think anyone should have to pay to use a public toilet at all to be honest. It's a basic human right.

I think all public toilets should be free.
But YANBU

I always have a few coins for parking and toilets. I would rather pay for the toilets than have the councils close them for lack of funds.

I don't think anyone should need to pay to use a toilet. It's outrageous.

I have started keeping a few on me now just in case, some 50ps too as some toilets charge 50p instead! It's awkward to do this though as I don't use much cash and there in no bank in my nearest town. I've just started keeping a stash in a piggy bank near the door, whenever I get change I chuck it in there.

It's not just about me though, it's also about others with the same issues. My son is also disabled and has a tendency to strip off if he has an accident (sensory issues) so it's quite tricky to start digging out small change whilst trying to keep him from getting naked in public. Some people with disabilities have difficulty with fine motor skills and manual dexterity so handling change is difficult for them. The radar keys are even specifically adapted to account for this.

If they had contactless payment options that would make it a bit easier but I appreciate these are more expensive to install. I have happily put a pound in one of these toilets when it was all the change I had so paying isn't the issue. I don't think people fully appreciate the desperation you go through when you are so in need of the toilet and can't wait.

Well if you need the loo more often you will end up paying out more as a direct result of your disability. Im with you and the pp who said all toilets should be free.

YANBU. Disabled people have enough to pay out for as it is.

Although I absolutely 100% agree that no toilets should charge ever - but if they really do have to, rather than close, at least keep the disabled one available for the most vulnerable and in need.

I think if most toilets charge and disabled toilets dont there will be an increase in people suddenly needing disabled facilities.

I agree that you shouldn't really need to pay to use the loo - it is a basic medical need and people who get precious about others using their loos (eg non-customers in cafes) really annoy me.

But I don't think it's unreasonable to charge for use of the accessible loos alongside the "normal" ones - they still need cleaning and provision of loo roll etc.

@JuergenSchwarzwald normally I would agree, but in this case if a non disabled person had no change and couldn't access the toilet they could probably wait long enough to find another one they could use. A disabled person may not be able to.

As someone who has had an accident in public on more than one occasion due to lack of access to public toilets I can tell you it's an extremely humiliating and unpleasant experience, and one which a non disabled person would likely not have to experience in the same situation.

Surely accessible bathrooms need to charge for the same reasons you note regular bathrooms as needing to charge? Unless you're happy for the accessible bathroom to never be cleaned or have toilet paper.

I think all toilets should be free ideally.

But if accessible toilets were free, think how many people would get a radar key to keep in their pocket so they don't have to pay.

I think that all toilets should be free ideally

The reality is that no toilet is free. The question is who should pay for them and how.

It would make sense for the accessible toilets to be easily accessible. Yanbu.

The Royal Parks in London have become contactless, so the tech does exist, is in use and perhaps will become more widespread. I hope it doesn't though, because what about those who have no case?

It's probably easier to remember to keep a stash of change for things like that

It's really tricky OP because radar keys are so easy to get online and if accessible loos were free and others weren't then you can bet a load of gits would get radar keys which would make it worse for you.

I think you’ve answered your own question when you mentioned about the limited funds and the parish councils having to pay for loo roll etc. Sadly they have to have the same rule for everyone, you are using the loo after all.

For what it’s worth I think any charge to use the loo sucks. It’s also really bad that nowhere takes cards. I was literally bursting once and the mean cow wouldn’t let me in.

I haven’t seen a public loo that charges for years and years. But if there are some operated by local parishes as you say, then they need to be serviced and that needs to be paid for, whether used by a disabled person or not.