Public toilets and changing rooms should be redesigned to keep everyone safe

[Quinoawoman]

I propose that by changing the design of public toilets and changing rooms, we can keep everyone safe.
Pic 1 - how most public toilets are now. Small, dark doorway into dark space that can't be seen from the outside. I've often worried that there could be someone hiding in there waiting to do me harm. Would not let my daughter in there alone. Would not let my son go in the gents alone.
Pic 2 - unisex cubicles (floor to ceiling) all with an individual door onto the street. Pull open the door and see the whole space - limited room for someone to hide. Door obviously lockable from inside. No more worrying about where to send your child whose sex is different from yours.

Changing rooms could be similar - individual cubicles straight off the shop floor. No more David Lloyd-style open changing spaces where you fear dropping your towel and flashing everyone.

YABU - changing rooms and toilets are fine as they are
YANBU - changing the design would be better for everyone.

I completely agree. I hate communal toilets. I don't want to hear someone's else's poo plopping into the toilet and I don't want them hearing me telling DS that he doesn't wipe me clean after a wee even though I wipe him clean 🤦‍♀️

One enclosed secure space used by anyone.

Although I'd never use a toilet where you enter straight off the street because it doesn't feel safe. I only use toilets in quite public areas where there are employees come to think of it.

That’s a bit precious mind

Safety concerns are one thing (whether I think they are proportionate is a different conversation) but being embarrassed about hearing poo splashes is another

And why not educate your toddler not to say silly things 🤷🏻‍♂️

At my Sainsbury's the toilets are on a corridor off where you get off the escalators, it has often bothered me that if someone was attacked in the toilets nobody would hear their cries for help.

Well he's 18mo so...

I don't think it's precious to want privacy on the toilet though. I think when you think about it, it's strange that we have the setup we do, especially typically American ones where the gaps are even bigger. I don't really want to sit 2ft from someone else, hearing each other poo.

I don't really have an opinion as I avoid public toilets like the plague, but I had to comment as I immediately recognised the ones in Pic 2 as they're on the harbour in my town 😁

You can still tell him to be quiet?

And pooing is just a normal function, having toilets designed for easy upkeep and spacial/economic efficiency comes before random icks relating to poo