Banging on the door of the Accessible Toilet

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

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 😩

Why is it arrogant to want to protect concessions from abuse, for the benefit of all disabled users ? It’s obviously not ideal to challenge people but what’s the alternative ? Lots of criticism on the thread, and in some cases downright nastiness and judgment directed at those advocating for challenging, even in a respectful or discrete way, but there’s not much in the way of alternative suggestion as to how to protect the concessions we all value as disabled people.

I give up then. Speaking as a wheelchair user myself I wouldn’t think of using an accessible toilet for either of those purposes because I have first hand experience of the issues disabled people face and am aware that people in genuine need may be waiting to use the facility. That’s about courtesy and consideration for others isn’t it ?

And there's not been much in the way of explaining just how challenging people actually works.

Ideal solutions would be to increase provision. What's your MP said about the subject when you've approached them?

I’ve approached my MP several times regarding this issue because not only are the accessible toilets in my area abused, they’re also in a disgusting state most of the time. I’ve also approached on several other disability issues but my MP is Tory. Need I say more ? They pay lip service with a reply saying they’ll look into it and nothing ever happens.

I'm sorry for that. My MP is very community minded, and would be keen to be involved.

OP this is standard practice and a majority of the time it's the only way to know if it's occupied, without just going ahead and unlocking the door with your radar key.

It gives the occupier the opportunity to say 'engaged', 'hold on' or whatever.

Believe me, it's far better to have a knock on the door than hear a key already unlocking it whilst you're on the loo! FAR more panic when they're already on their way in!!

I do disagree with the banging though, it should be a polite knock.

I'm sure nobody wants to force a woman to rinse a menstrual cup in a communal sink area with her trousers round her ankles, before shuffling back into a cubicle!

Or for someone with IBS to have an episode of explosive diarrhoea that leaves her dripping faeces?

Or for a pregnant woman to pee herself because the toilet stall is too small to use?

I have given a radar key to a relative with IBS because the thought of her having a bowel event and either not being able to get there in time, or not being able to clean up afterwards is inhumane.

Thank you. Yes, I’m sure he shouldn’t be caught in this situation, but it isn’t for me to deal with… his immediate family are managing it all and to be honest I don’t think he makes it easy for anyone. He doesn’t want to accept he is disabled.

You again…

If you choose to use a menstrual cup then it’s up to you to manage that appropriately- taking up an accessible toilet is not appropriate. You have other options to manage your periods.

If you are pregnant then you have a temporary condition that means you need more space/quicker access- it’s fine to use the accessible toilet in this situation.

If you have ibs which causes you to have urgency or loss of control or means you have a big clean up to do then you have an illness/condition which means that you require an accessible toilet, so you use the accessible toilet.

Any more ‘gotcha!’ scenarios you would like me to clear up for you?

Yes, you do have to provide medical evidence of the condition but that doesn't always show how it effects the person living with the condition. Where I live whether you get a blue badge a lot of the time will depend on the assessment of one person asking a series of questions and using the answers to determine whether it is necessary.

The blue badge thing is odd. My local authority require reams of information and then still say no.
I've applied for my step mother so I can take her places. She cant walk 20ft now, so I thought I'd have a go at the blue badge so I could at least take her shopping and not park at the far end of the carpark. But I ended up buying a wheelchair instead. Much less stress than getting a blue badge. And if we go at quiet times I can usually find two spaces together to get her out of the car and into the wheelchair.

She is a pensioner, so I'm not certain but she gets carers allowance and state pension. Nothing else that I'm aware of.

Oh and I'm sure you'd all have a hissy fit if you saw me running from or to the car if I did have a blue badge.

I don't think it's a thing to leave the larger cubicle empty in a row of cubicles in the ladies is it?

An elderly relative of mine is pretty good on her feet, but finds turning around in a tight cubicle a bit harder now and prefers to use a cubicle with an outward opening door if the venue has one. She just joins the general queue though and uses it when it's available when she's at the front. She doesn't go down the side of the main queue.

Convention, that's the word I meant.

What pathetic excuses. If you choose to use a menstrual cup, uoir problem. Also, I'm sure most pregnant people manage in a normal cubicle as well as fat people, see plenty on planes. I just find it so appalling that people really want to argue about this and justify their poor behaviour any way they can

Using a menstrual cup is a choice. Menstruation isn’t a disability but if you must, the single sex larger cubicles within the standard male/female toilets can be used by non disabled people who require more space. Same goes for a pregnant woman. But as has now been said numerous times the stand alone unisex accessible toilets are for the sole use of disabled people and their carers. And someone with IBS is perfectly entitled to use the accessible toilets, it’s a disability. If you use the stand alone one to rinse out your menstrual cup or whatever else, you may be condemning someone whose only option is to use that toilet to having an embarrassing accident. Which is exactly the kind of selfish behaviour we’re discussing here.

No, the larger cubicles in the rows within the single sex male/female toilets are for general use by anyone who needs a bit more space for whatever reason - they’re not exclusively for disabled people. But the separate unisex accessible toilets are only for the use of disabled people and carers.

How’s your blood pressure @bigstones ? This has to be one of the most contentious threads I’ve ever seen !!

Honestly the world is full of wankers 🤷‍♀️.

Well if it's locked from the inside you won't be able to open it with your key will you?

Mind you, a lot of user don't realise this, and don't lock it from the inside properly. So you can still unlock the door and embarrass someone. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I always lock it properly and folk outside rattling way with their key always me laugh too myself when they'll be complaining to staff, and I just hear the staff say "Yes, you can't unlock it BECAUSE SOMEONE'S IN THERE".

Am I wrong in understanding that if it's locked from the inside then you can't get in from outside even with a key? Or I have just been lucky somehow? They can try and try with their key but if I've locked it from inside then it's locked and I'm safe and happy pooing. Do they not all work like this?

Except (according to many posts on here and my own experience) you CAN unlock a lot of the radar key doors even if the handle is lifted to the locked position on the inside…

which makes sense if you think about it- what would be the point in the red cord for the alarm system if no one could get in in an emergency?

Good point @Bigstones . I've never looked, I just assumed they have a safety thing, like toilet doors where you can use a 5p in a groove, or my bedroom door lock where you just jab a screwdriver into a little hole. Dunno.

The one in my local is definitely one that locks from inside, because even the staff can't get in with their key. I must have just been VERY lucky that I've never been in the other type when someone tries getting in with a key! I'm glad I've been oblivious until now.

It’s my understanding that you can open the doors with a radar key even if it’s locked from the inside - it’s a safety issue in case the occupant gets into difficulty. Not sure if they’re all the same though.

The one in my local pub DEFINITELY can't be opened with a key from outside.(admittedly they might have another safety poke-hole catch release or something) because I tested it out of curiosity when they first gave me my radar key. And when I'm in there I've heard staff shouting to other customers who's key won't let them in it's because someone is already in. I've tested others too and it's always been the same. I've never come across one you CAN open - I must just have been lucky!

RADAR locks are designed that you CANNOT open from the outside with a key, if someone is inside and has engaged the lock. This is sensible for a locking system where multiple people have keys.

However if you install it incorrectly then you can.

The way to open them if someone is stuck, is by using a coin or screwdriver in the slot on the outside of the lock, which will override the internal lock.

Many stores will install the locks incorrectly on purpose so that they can use the key to open it even if someone is inside, they feel it is easier and also that it puts people off using their own RADAR key, giving them more control over who uses the loo.