To be annoyed at the lack of bathrooms

[Applecharm25]

I have my period. I can feel that i need to change my tampon.

I'm out walking round my city. There are no public bathrooms anywhere near me.

I see a sign for a bathroom in a small shopping centre near me. I walk in. The bathroom is actually in a shop. I'm told that the bathroom is only available for paying customers.

So now I have to get in a long queue and wait further and buy something while I really need to change my tampon.

Surely there should be better toilet services available.

I'm not sure if you are in America or are American (use of the word bathroom to mean toilet is not common in the UK), but public toilets are sadly the victims of spending cuts by Local Authorities in the UK. So whilst I agree that they should exist, they are becoming rarer in the UK (as I'm sure they are in other countries) due to running costs.

Go into a pub - if it’s empty pretend to look for a friend then dart into the loo. Do not catch bar persons eye.

If it’s full go straight in.

Never ask if you can use a shop/pub//cafe toilet just walk in confidently.

I don't think that there are any public toilets in my city either, other than maybe in the bus station, they have all been closed.

The issue was that the council couldn't afford to pay someone to man them all the time and people were using them to take drugs etc. so they were all closed.

I can understand why businesses don't want non-customers using their toilets though.

Your best best is supermarkets but not always the bigger ones around in town centres.

That said, it's understandable you have to be a paying customer for them. You just got unlucky with the queue.

Ah I do the opposite, I say I can't stop for a drink but would it be ok if I just use the loo and put some money in the charity box in return (or if there is not one, the tip box). People almost always say yes.

Supermarkets, Whetherspoons, public library, a department store if you have any left in your town

I agree - it’s terrible advice to just rip off the pub/ shop.

or I buy a packet of crisps

Pub, McDonald's, supermarket

No I'm in the UK.

What do you mean "bathroom" is not common. Everyone I know, says bathroom.

A woman even walked in after me, and asked where the bathroom is.

I just think they should have more services for women on their period too.

Seeing as I'm not actually going to use the toilet. They should have tampon changing rooms for women.

At least one in a town.

Of course that won't happen as periods don't happen to men!

I agree re buying crisps in a pub in exchange for their loo.

Department store like John Lewis
Bigger supermarkets
Shopping centre/mall

There's no big shopping centre near where I am right now.

I would have to get a bus to it.

There definitely should be more period changing facilities for women in cities.

Around here, people would ask for the public toilets or loos. I too would assume use of the word 'bathroom' is be more american usage. Anyway I digress.

Departments stores, larger supermarkets, libraries and shopping centres, even multi-story car parks. If all else fails - MacDonalds. Better quality / cleaner ones in department stores.

I opened your post assuming you meant bathrooms (ie rooms with a bath or shower). The people who say ‘bathroom’ to mean toilet in this country probably spend too much time on American social media.

That is really rubbish. It’s typical that everything is designed around men instead of women’s needs like periods 😠

Well not around these parts they don't! You definitely ask where the toilets are, as do other people I know who live in other parts of the country. A bathroom is somewhere with a bath or shower, which most cafes/pubs or Public Conveniences don't have.

The last time I tried to use a loo in McDonalds, the door could only be opened by using a code that was printed on your receipt after you had purchased something.

Omg the descent into arguing over ‘bathroom'. Your experience is YOUR experience. OP has already been explained HER experience using the word. Give over, it's embarrassing

Spoons Costa or McDonald's ? I wouldn't use bathroom for a loo, bathrooms have a bath (or shower) in them

"tampon changing rooms"?? WTF?? That would be a loo.

Interestingly - the provision of public toilets for female use was seen as a move to enable greater freedom of movement for women, that and bicycles. Prior to public loo provision, women were tethered to places were they knew people and could ask to use their domestic facilities, or buy services from a hotel / tavern /inn.

Looks like we need to start campaigning again ladies. Something else our grandmothers thought they had sorted.

I always ask and have never been turned down.

There was even a sign in the shop saying

'Bathroom ' - with an arrow pointing the way to it!

Does it matter at all what people call them?

No it doesn't.

But you're not using the loo, when you change a tampon....