Image of Costco’s bathroom taken by Steven
Originally published in Washington Square News on November 18, 2024 (written by Steven Wang)
In 1990, a group of unhoused New Yorkers came together to file a class-action lawsuit against the city, citing the need for more public restrooms around the city. They argued that the city’s neglect forced them to suffer humiliation, health risks and indignities in a simple attempt to use the restroom. This lawsuit illustrates a universal fact: access to bathrooms is a fundamental human need being systematically denied in New York City. Decades have passed, yet the problem remains unresolved. New Yorkers across the city, particularly the most vulnerable, still struggle to meet their basic needs.
A report from the Coalition for the Homeless found that unhoused people frequently cite the absence of restrooms as one of their biggest day-to-day challenges. Without reliable access to a public restroom, people are left to risk criminalization and sacrifice their dignity to meet their basic bodily needs. Depriving people of access to basic health resources such as a place to use the restroom or wash their hands poses a health risk for both the unhoused and all city residents. The lack of public restrooms disproportionately affects those who are already struggling to survive on minimal resources.
New York City has just one public restroom for every 7,500 residents, placing it 93rd among the 100 largest U.S. cities in terms of restroom availability. Of the few public restrooms that exist, only two are open 24/7. Most facilities are located in parks, where operating hours are typically limited to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even more troubling, a recent city council survey uncovered that two-thirds of park restrooms inspected had significant issues ranging from closures during scheduled hours to a lack of functioning locks, soap or other necessary supplies.
When public bathrooms are unavailable, people are often left with no choice but to relieve themselves outdoors. In the best-case scenario, the sidewalk now smells more like urine. In the worst-case scenario, this puts them at risk of receiving a fine. In the past year, summonses for public urination issued by the New York Police Department surged by 46% in an attempt to crack down on this behavior.
This punitive approach not only fails to address the root problem but also criminalizes individuals for being unhoused — further burdening them through tickets and fines. This is a vicious cycle: It denies people a basic need and then penalizes them for trying to fulfill it.
For some, businesses may seem like a viable alternative, but this solution is far from equitable. Many establishments require customers to make a purchase before allowing access to their restrooms, a policy that excludes the 2 million New Yorkers living in poverty. Beyond affordability, racial bias further complicates this issue. Incidents like the 2018 arrests of two Black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks show relying on private restrooms is not always a viable solution for those who experience discriminatory behavior.
New York City Council members Rita Joseph and Sandy Nurse have proposed a series of measures to address the crisis. Their three-bill package, known as the Free to Pee campaign, includes several critical initiatives. The first requires municipal buildings already open to the public to make their restrooms accessible. The second involves a detailed plan to install bathrooms in parks and subway stations — locations that have already been identified as suitable. The third proposes a 10-year strategy to increase restroom availability, aiming for one bathroom per 2,000 residents. This long-term plan would explore innovative solutions such as portable public bathrooms, public-private partnerships and incentives for businesses to join a citywide restroom network.
The restroom shortage impacts everyone — not just the unhoused population. Disabled people face barriers when searching for accessible bathrooms, but so do pregnant individuals, seniors, children and tourists. Whether it’s navigating the city during a busy day or addressing sudden biological needs, the scarcity of restrooms restricts everyone’s ability to move freely and comfortably.
Passing and implementing the Free to Pee legislation is essential to improving life in New York City. It’s about ensuring the health, dignity and equity of all residents. Public restrooms are not a luxury but rather a necessity for any city that claims to prioritize its people. Restroom access is a small but powerful step toward building a city that’s open to everyone.
Wow, this is so upsetting because I was diagnosed with a bladder problem back in 2022, and there have been so many time I have been refused. Now I carry my medical certificate everywhere
Why is a city as big and wealthy as NYC have a public restroom crisis????? It’s literally a basic necessity, not a privilege
One public bathroom for every 7,500 residents? That’s beyond unacceptable. No wonder the streets smell like urine
The Free to Pee campaign should 100% be necessary. I can’t believe I’m sayin this outloud but everyone should be able to use a restroom without hassle
NYC police cracking down on public urination when there are barely any public bathrooms is the definition of absurd.
riminalizing homelessness instead of solving the actual problem should not be how any city operates…..
Most major city in the world has more public restrooms than NYC
Why do we have more luxury high-rises than affordable housing AND more high-end restaurants than public restrooms?
Restroom access is a public health issue so why are people having to beg a business to use the bathroom?
And let’s not forget businesses can and do discriminate. Not everyone can just walk into a Starbucks and use the restroom
46% increase in summonses for public urination? Maybe, just maybe, we should provide people with a place to go instead of fining them
It’s crazy that people have to advocate for something as basic as a bathroom. NYC leadership should be embarrassed.
the fact that Steven mentioned about how public restrooms are not just for the unhoused should be emphasized. Tourists, kids, seniors, pregnant people should not be forgotten. Everyone needs them!
YESSSSS! A city without public restrooms makes life harder for EVERYONE, not just those in poverty
I hope the Free to Pee campaign actually gets passed because we need public restrooms in subway stations ASAP
Relying on businesses for bathrooms doesn’t work because not everyone can afford to buy a coffee but come on at least let them pee
One of the richest cities in the world, yet it fails to provide something as basic as a toilet
Portable public bathrooms work in cities like Paris and Tokyo so we should follow their lead
NYC has the money for NYPD robot dogs but it doesn’t have the money for public restrooms???????????
The city always has money for policing but not enough for social services
I like the title. It sounds very captivating with the double e. smart choice!
Thank you!
I’ve lived in NYC my whole life, and I can’t count how many times I’ve had to frantically search for a bathroom.
I’m not from the city but how is it possible you guys still don’t have enough public restrooms? aren’t you guys really rich?
the fact that there are only TWO 24/7 public bathrooms in the entire city is ridiculous. We have skyscrapers but no bathrooms LOL
The city punishes people for public urination but refuses to give them a place to go BRUH
Right?? It’s literally a human need. People aren’t peeing outside for fun. They have no choice.
imagine how much worse it is for homeless people who deal with this every single day. it’s humiliating and not ethical at all. do better.
Right and there’s a 46% increase in public urination tickets. I wonder why
Businesses requiring a purchase for restroom use is so weird to me… like just let me use the bathroom super quickly when it’s an emergency instead of waiting in line and ordering and risking soiling my pants
It’s even worse when racial bias gets involved. We’ve all seen stories about Black and brown people being denied bathroom access or harassed for asking