Page 5 | How is this even allowed (no toilets)

girlfriend44 · 2023-05-25T21:21:07+00:00

A charity have a sporting session every week in a park but there are no toilets? How's that even allowed ? Anyone else think it's awful? I've heard people say go behind a Bush, that's not nice or practical. Shouldn't have too anyway, they should find a venue, where they have toilets and changing facilities? Would you attend?

saltinesandcoffeecups · 26/05/2023 00:11

ThereIbledit · 26/05/2023 00:06

There aren't any toilet facilities at that event and you need to take responsibility and make a decision for yourself about whether the event is suitable for you.

You're saying that people like me (heavy periods and a bladder urgency problem) can just be ignored because we can make the informed choice not to go. Many people in the UK have a need to have a toilet within reasonable distance including those of us with bladder issues, bowel issues (Crohn's, IBD, Stoma patients, even coeliacs, etc etc etc, women who have periods (from normal and menhorragic), but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

So explain how a hiking group, long distance cycling, canoeing, or bird watching group is supposed to provide these services?

OutDamnedSpot · 26/05/2023 00:13

but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

The event organiser is organising the event. If you’re an adult, you should be able to organise your own toileting needs (or choose not to go)

PerryMenno · 26/05/2023 00:14

saltinesandcoffeecups · 26/05/2023 00:07

We’ll I’m not sure about you, but the OP hasn’t figured out that if she’s not happy with a paid service she can stop paying/participating and find one that meets her requirements. So no, I’m willing to give the OP a lot credit.

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I help organise a women's sport and want to it to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, I think these things matter and it's worth raising. Not in a demanding way, but in a constructive feedback way. Who knows how many others would like to attend this event but don't? Maybe there's a solution, maybe there isn't, but if the organisers don't personally have this toilet issue it may have never crossed their minds that they are limiting their numbers.

quiettimes · 26/05/2023 00:20

This possibly isn’t healthy but I’ve only used the toilet twice today - last time at around 3pm. I think I’d be alright with this set up.

Gothambutnotahamster · 26/05/2023 00:20

DontMakeMeShushYou · 25/05/2023 23:57

If the event organisers make it clear that they do not provide toilet facilities then it is your choice as a presumably functioning adult to make a decision as to whether you wish to attend the event under those circumstances or not. That is the bottom line. It makes not one blind bit of difference whether it is run by a charity or a profit-making business. It makes not one blind bit of difference that needing to toilet is a human need. There aren't any toilet facilities at that event and you need to take responsibility and make a decision for yourself about whether the event is suitable for you.

This!

Don't go if you don't want to or the facilities don't suit.

I can't understand why adults need pandering to these days.

Ellie1015 · 26/05/2023 00:24

If you don't like the set up find another class?

If no other class available presumably it is more difficult/expensive to organise elsewhere.

Ellie1015 · 26/05/2023 00:26

Also who would disallow it? You think there should be a law against setting up classes in less than perfect circumstances?

UsingChangeofName · 26/05/2023 00:32

ThereIbledit · 26/05/2023 00:06

There aren't any toilet facilities at that event and you need to take responsibility and make a decision for yourself about whether the event is suitable for you.

You're saying that people like me (heavy periods and a bladder urgency problem) can just be ignored because we can make the informed choice not to go. Many people in the UK have a need to have a toilet within reasonable distance including those of us with bladder issues, bowel issues (Crohn's, IBD, Stoma patients, even coeliacs, etc etc etc, women who have periods (from normal and menhorragic), but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

People are saying the OP is free to choose to spend her leisure time wherever she feels comfortable, and if she doesn't feel comfortable at this particular sporting activity, she is free to choose a different one where she will feel comfortable.

This is coming from someone who can't go too long without a toilet, and who has made choices not to go to some things where that would be difficult for me.

I absolutely agree with the pp who said you can't legislate that no-one can ever do any activity that isn't in perfect / ideal conditions for 100% of the population.

CosmicVaginaBiscuit · 26/05/2023 00:49

Gothambutnotahamster · 26/05/2023 00:20

This!

Don't go if you don't want to or the facilities don't suit.

I can't understand why adults need pandering to these days.

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What you call pandering to I'd call trying to be inclusive.
If there are no toilets there, an organiser might consider using a different venue if they will attract more custom. If it's something they haven't thought of it's fair enough to ask.

It is an ableist attitude from many on the thread of 'just don't go', so people with issues just miss out on the physical and mental health benefits of exercise (in general, not just at the OP's event).
I get that it's optional but it would be nice for more people to have the option.

@PerryMenno definitely identify with the pre-run wee being right before, I used to let people go in front of me in the queue so I could go as late as possible before the start.

I have actually been at a parkrun where the run briefing included instructions to not pee in the bushes, there were toilets in the park but the issue was everyone wanting to use them at the same time, so there were apparently a few who felt the need for a pee run wee.

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2023 01:02

I am confused about how inclusive it is to say "Well we cant include everyone so lets not include anyone" because that is essentially what would happen. If they could be inclusive but wont, well thats one thing. But if they tried to be inclusive and ended up doing they best they can and hoped for the best, thats another.

My son was born 30+ years ago with a severe disablity. The world was a different place then. I fought to get him into mainstream school and he was put in the same class as the kids with learning issues, despite him not having those issues to those levels. I fought that too. I do get it.

But when there where things he couldnt attend, we found other things.

You can choose to let your issues define your life in a negative way, or you can look at a potentially negative situation and think "Well that wont work, lets find something that will" and in my/his experience, you usually end up in a far better place a result.

As Douglas Adams once wrote (in The Long Dark TeaTime of the Soul) "I may not end up where I intended to go, but I often end up where I needed to be".

Gothambutnotahamster · 26/05/2023 01:06

@CosmicVaginaBiscuit so by that rationale no one gets to undertake the activity? I do despair these days.

neilyoungismyhero · 26/05/2023 01:14

I did a Race for Life one year where all the toilets were closed. It was 10K..pretty challenging for people needing a pee..since then they've opened them up.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/05/2023 01:20

Spot on, and it makes no difference what the sport is, that's why I never said.

Of course t makes a difference. If it's an activity likely to be offered in multiple venues, just go to one of those if you're bothered. If it's cricket it's a massive amount of time, tai chi could be 1/2 hour which makes a massive difference.

Anyway, why not name it? Just seems stubborn and bloody minded not to. If it's cycling... literally every outing and specifically obscure sport on MN is cycling.

Someone once did Warhammer figures, which is niche. I respected that.

Aslanplustwo · 26/05/2023 01:22

Unless you are there for the whole day I can't see a problem. If you aren't happy with it, then don't go - simple solution.

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2023 01:26

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/05/2023 01:20

Spot on, and it makes no difference what the sport is, that's why I never said.

Of course t makes a difference. If it's an activity likely to be offered in multiple venues, just go to one of those if you're bothered. If it's cricket it's a massive amount of time, tai chi could be 1/2 hour which makes a massive difference.

Anyway, why not name it? Just seems stubborn and bloody minded not to. If it's cycling... literally every outing and specifically obscure sport on MN is cycling.

Someone once did Warhammer figures, which is niche. I respected that.

Truth, Freedom, Justice, Reasonably Priced Love and a Hard Boiled Egg

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/05/2023 01:39

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2023 01:26

Truth, Freedom, Justice, Reasonably Priced Love and a Hard Boiled Egg

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Truth!

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2023 01:45

Willmafrockfit · 26/05/2023 03:40

i think these outdoor sports have become popular since covid

BigChesterDraws · 26/05/2023 03:46

Well I don’t know what you’d do if the sport was marathon swimming.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 26/05/2023 04:47

I do a workout group in the park. I pay for it and there are no toilets. Finding a venue with a toilet would be way harder and probably way more expensive. The issue here is there not being enough public toilets around and not this particular activity.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 04:51

girlfriend44 · 25/05/2023 23:11

Of course, but you still.might need to go while your there or before you leave to come home.

You might even need the toilet because you feel unwell.

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Not to mention people with IBS/ Crohn's disease/ other continence issues. Hidden disabilities. Not providing a toilet is actually quite exclusionary to people with certain disabilities and health conditions.

However, it is a difficult one because they are a charity and this might be the only way they can afford to put this event on (hiring a venue would cost money).

At a minimum they need to be very clear when people book that there is no access to toilets for the duration.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 04:57

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2023 01:02

I am confused about how inclusive it is to say "Well we cant include everyone so lets not include anyone" because that is essentially what would happen. If they could be inclusive but wont, well thats one thing. But if they tried to be inclusive and ended up doing they best they can and hoped for the best, thats another.

My son was born 30+ years ago with a severe disablity. The world was a different place then. I fought to get him into mainstream school and he was put in the same class as the kids with learning issues, despite him not having those issues to those levels. I fought that too. I do get it.

But when there where things he couldnt attend, we found other things.

You can choose to let your issues define your life in a negative way, or you can look at a potentially negative situation and think "Well that wont work, lets find something that will" and in my/his experience, you usually end up in a far better place a result.

As Douglas Adams once wrote (in The Long Dark TeaTime of the Soul) "I may not end up where I intended to go, but I often end up where I needed to be".

The thing is, if it becomes the norm and perfectly acceptable for people running community events to not be inclusive, there will be fewer and fewer community events/ activities available for people like your son to "find other things".

I do understand what you're saying and think it's a very forgiving and accepting attitude which is applaudable. However, I do think there should be some social responsbility on anyone running events to be inclusive, and it's right that there is pressure to do so and that people like OP speak up.

If the person running this activity has looked into other local parks and public spaces that they could use, and genuinely can't find one with a toilet, then of course not much can be done... but for some reason I suspect that's not the case (most places have at least one park that has a loo). It's more likely that they just haven't thought of it as an issue, because it's not an issue for them. And that's the problem.

There are so many people on this thread who haven't even considered that some people might be incontinent and unable to attend this activity. People running activities need to have an awareness and so it is good that OP speaks up and starts threads like this.

peachicecream · 26/05/2023 05:03

saltinesandcoffeecups · 26/05/2023 00:11

but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

So explain how a hiking group, long distance cycling, canoeing, or bird watching group is supposed to provide these services?

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If an activity can be inclusive and accessible, then it should be.

An activity like an outdoor exercise group can be inclusive by finding the right venue. Many parks have public toilets. The organiser should be making efforts to find a space that is accessible and has a toilet.

We don't know whether or not this has happened, so I am not necessarily saying they've done anything wrong. But efforts certainly should happen, every time, and it is right that there is pressure on anyone organising community events/ activities to make them as inclusive as possible.

tuvamoodyson · 26/05/2023 05:21

ThereIbledit · 26/05/2023 00:06

There aren't any toilet facilities at that event and you need to take responsibility and make a decision for yourself about whether the event is suitable for you.

You're saying that people like me (heavy periods and a bladder urgency problem) can just be ignored because we can make the informed choice not to go. Many people in the UK have a need to have a toilet within reasonable distance including those of us with bladder issues, bowel issues (Crohn's, IBD, Stoma patients, even coeliacs, etc etc etc, women who have periods (from normal and menhorragic), but you're saying it's fiiiine events organisers should just be able to ignore us if it doesn't suit them

Then perhaps an outdoor activity with no toilet facilities isn’t for you….

ApolloandDaphne · 26/05/2023 05:42

ThereIbledit · 25/05/2023 23:57

I think all venues where people expect to spend any time should have toilets. It's pretty ableist to not have them.

Is a park a venue though? It's just some open space to be used by all for no cost. There is no obligation to provide loos in parks.