Mandate 2:1 female-to-male ratio for public toilets

[IwantToRetire]

The Royal Society for Public Health’s report, “Taking the P*: Decline of the Great British Public Toilet” from 2019 says equality of access to toilets is an important factor, particularly for women.

We believe a fair toilet ratio would be at least 2:1 in favour of women. The British has historically relied on a 1:1 building standard.

Calls to address the unfairness have led to ‘potty parity’ legislation in parts of the US and Canada.

Extract from a petition on the Parliament web site.

Signed. It seems that barely a day goes by when I don't complain about this, usually to poor DH, who can't do anything about it.

The most recent was at a small service station - 1 accessible toilet (locked), 1 women's cubicle, with sink, and a men's which must have had at least 2 provisions inside as multiple men went in at once. While I waited there were never any fewer than 5 women in the queue. Men would come in the waiting area and look at the queue with puzzlement - we resignedly waved them into the men's, for which there was no queue at any point.

Incidentally, I was recently in a queue at a service station abroad, again only women queueing. One of the staff offered to stop men going into the men's toilet while we used it, but the taboo (or disgust at men's wee) is strong and we all preferred to queue than to use the men's.