Banging on the door of the Accessible Toilet

HunterHearstHelmsley · 2023-12-10T09:30:24+00:00

Why do people do this?! I've just used the accessible toilet (I need to use the accessible toilet). I'd barely sat down and someone started banging on the door. I wasn't in there an unreasonable amount of time - probably about 30 seconds when the door banging started and 3 minutes overall. I was in there because I needed to be, banging on the door isn't going to make me quicker. If someone was taking the piss, it'd probably make them stay longer! It's not the first time it's happened but it's so frustrating. It happened a few weeks ago also, that time was a woman wanting to use the baby change... the baby change wasn't even in the accessible loo! It's really annoyed me this morning, it's not something I've noticed when using non-accesible toilets so I think it's just an accessible loo thing. But whyyyy?! I can't go faster 😩

Catza · 10/12/2023 09:31

It’s never happened to me to be honest. But yes, it is incredibly unnerving when it does, I would imagine.

LouMorris · 10/12/2023 09:32

I’m not excusing it but I wonder if someone has assumed you don’t need to be in there if you don’t have a visible need to use it?

A bit like some people get snarky at people using disabled spaces if they don’t have a walking aid or wheelchair.

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:34

Well the baby change thing is silly and rude but presumably some people need to use the accessible bathroom because they have bowel issues and may need to go as fast as possible??
I admit to sometimes rattling the handle of toilets as some people just seem to be unaware that other people might be waiting.

Pinkdressinggownbelt · 10/12/2023 09:35

Some disabled toilets you can’t tell if it’s locked from the outside or from the inside. I usually knock before trying to open with the radar key. Not banging though, but some doors are so thick you have to knock hard. I’ve had people bang/knock when I’ve been in before and yes its so stressful

Polimi · 10/12/2023 09:35

I’ve had it happen to me only once thankfully but it freaked me out so badly I then couldn’t go and just panicked, so very helpful of them

ineedsun · 10/12/2023 09:37

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:34

Well the baby change thing is silly and rude but presumably some people need to use the accessible bathroom because they have bowel issues and may need to go as fast as possible??
I admit to sometimes rattling the handle of toilets as some people just seem to be unaware that other people might be waiting.

Hopefully you will stop doing that now that you’ve read this thread?

Maybe just cough loudly if they’ve been in there more than about three or four minutes?

Original poster

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/12/2023 09:39

LouMorris · 10/12/2023 09:32

I’m not excusing it but I wonder if someone has assumed you don’t need to be in there if you don’t have a visible need to use it?

A bit like some people get snarky at people using disabled spaces if they don’t have a walking aid or wheelchair.

That's what I thought tbf. They hadn't actually seen me go in and I'm on crutches!

The poster who said they panicked and couldn't go.. Yes! It's like in the IT Crowd, makes it go back in 😆

OP posts:

AgnesX · 10/12/2023 09:40

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:34

Well the baby change thing is silly and rude but presumably some people need to use the accessible bathroom because they have bowel issues and may need to go as fast as possible??
I admit to sometimes rattling the handle of toilets as some people just seem to be unaware that other people might be waiting.

If other people are waiting it's just too bad. Just like any other toilet. Disabled people are often slow and you hammering on the door isn't going to help.

Bigstones · 10/12/2023 09:41

Pinkdressinggownbelt · 10/12/2023 09:35

Some disabled toilets you can’t tell if it’s locked from the outside or from the inside. I usually knock before trying to open with the radar key. Not banging though, but some doors are so thick you have to knock hard. I’ve had people bang/knock when I’ve been in before and yes its so stressful

Yes, it’s one of the stupid things about accessible toilets- you don’t know if it’s locked because it’s empty or because someone is in there… I don’t knock/bang in case I freak out the person in there but I do open it with my radar key very slowly and make it obvious I’m there so if there is someone in there they have chance to yell!

IthinkIamAnAlien · 10/12/2023 09:41

I have noticed lately that homeless or mentally disabled people who are probably on the streets with nowhere to go end up hiding in the few remaining public toilets, often the disabled ones.
I was in one of our town's chain coffee stores recently and someone was in the disabled loo and security had been called and people on the tables around who had been there for a while were saying it had been occupied for some time. Might be a drugs user too of course. Says something about our collapsing welfare provision.
Similarly, a small town near us has had to close its public toilets because of people sleeping in them, day and night.

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:41

ineedsun · 10/12/2023 09:37

Hopefully you will stop doing that now that you’ve read this thread?

Maybe just cough loudly if they’ve been in there more than about three or four minutes?

Show quote history

I only ever do it in ordinary toilets and when there is a queue going out the door and no one has gone in or out for several minutes. It’s often leads to me finding that there wasn’t even anyone in there in the first place! So I think I’ll use my judgement and do it when I feel it’s appropriate.

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:42

I don’t use accessible toilets

ChocolateCinderToffee · 10/12/2023 09:43

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:41

I only ever do it in ordinary toilets and when there is a queue going out the door and no one has gone in or out for several minutes. It’s often leads to me finding that there wasn’t even anyone in there in the first place! So I think I’ll use my judgement and do it when I feel it’s appropriate.

Show quote history

I think I’ll just my judgement and say you’re extremely ill-mannered. Do you really think people spend a moment longer in a public loo than they have to?

SuspiciousSue · 10/12/2023 09:43

I’ve only been queried once but I point blank refused to explain my need to be in there. I have a blue badge and get PIP, I’ve every right to be in there. It’s not just for people in a wheelchair and surely they can wait the 5 mins it took me 🤷‍♀️

Mumof2teens79 · 10/12/2023 09:44

Did you see who it was?

There are certain people in all circumstances who think they are the only person with a unique characteristic. (Eg "the only gay in the village") this includes a handful of disabled people.

There is also an assumption that the accessible or disabled toilet is there for priority/immediate access to avoid waiting. That's not necessarily the case. It could just be another toilet, that happens to have some extra modifications making it accessible. When queuing and I see a row of stalls and one is bigger with a handrail I don't leave it empty and wait for a normal sized one.

Bigstones · 10/12/2023 09:48

SuspiciousSue · 10/12/2023 09:43

I’ve only been queried once but I point blank refused to explain my need to be in there. I have a blue badge and get PIP, I’ve every right to be in there. It’s not just for people in a wheelchair and surely they can wait the 5 mins it took me 🤷‍♀️

They might not be able to wait without having an accident, that is the unfortunate fact of some disabilities… nevertheless if you are disabled and using the toilet that’s fine, you have as much need as anyone else.

Coconutter24 · 10/12/2023 09:48

Smartiepants79 · 10/12/2023 09:34

Well the baby change thing is silly and rude but presumably some people need to use the accessible bathroom because they have bowel issues and may need to go as fast as possible??
I admit to sometimes rattling the handle of toilets as some people just seem to be unaware that other people might be waiting.

Why would you purposely rattle the handle, how rude! People don’t go to accessible toilets to hang out they go because they need to use it, someone could maybe take a few more minutes than you’d like due to their disability, they don’t need people rattling handles to hurry them along

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 10/12/2023 09:51

Sometimes accessible toilets are always locked even if there’s nobody in there and you have to ask a staff member for a key. I’m assuming this is to stop people using them who don’t need to. Is it possible the people banging on the door are trying to check if the toilet is actually occupied or if they have to ask someone for a key?

BIossomtoes · 10/12/2023 09:52

a small town near us has had to close its public toilets because of people sleeping in them, day and night.

It hasn’t had to, it’s chosen to. How fucking heartless and dog in the manger.

Bigstones · 10/12/2023 09:53

Mumof2teens79 · 10/12/2023 09:44

Did you see who it was?

There are certain people in all circumstances who think they are the only person with a unique characteristic. (Eg "the only gay in the village") this includes a handful of disabled people.

There is also an assumption that the accessible or disabled toilet is there for priority/immediate access to avoid waiting. That's not necessarily the case. It could just be another toilet, that happens to have some extra modifications making it accessible. When queuing and I see a row of stalls and one is bigger with a handrail I don't leave it empty and wait for a normal sized one.

The only people circumstance where disabled people should be waiting to use the accessible toilet is if another disabled person is in their using it.

Unless you are disabled you should be waiting for a non accessible cubicle to become available.

Justfinking · 10/12/2023 09:53

LouMorris · 10/12/2023 09:32

I’m not excusing it but I wonder if someone has assumed you don’t need to be in there if you don’t have a visible need to use it?

A bit like some people get snarky at people using disabled spaces if they don’t have a walking aid or wheelchair.

I was thinking this too. I bet it's because CF's who don't need to are always using them and people are getting fed up

inthefrost · 10/12/2023 09:53

Did you call out “it’s engaged!”, “wait a moment “, or “stop banging the door”?

orchardsquare · 10/12/2023 09:54

Yes, it could be they are checking to see if anyone is in there. I do think disabled toilets with radar keys should make it more clear, by having an 'occupied' or 'unoccupied' sign.

TheSoapyFrog · 10/12/2023 09:57

I also wonder if it's because it isn't always clear if it is occupied. I've had to knock on the door to see if someone is in there. And I've had people knock when I'm in there with my son.

Bigstones · 10/12/2023 09:58

orchardsquare · 10/12/2023 09:54

Yes, it could be they are checking to see if anyone is in there. I do think disabled toilets with radar keys should make it more clear, by having an 'occupied' or 'unoccupied' sign.

Yes! Why the fuck don’t they?! We can put a man on the moon but we can’t manage to put a red/green indicator on a bloody toilet door so that people know what’s what!