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Why it's so hard to find a public toilet

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

Why it's so hard to find a public toilet

Planet Money

2025/05/02
Planet Money

Planet Money

2025/05/02
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Why is it so hard to find a bathroom when you need one? In the U.S., we used to have lots of publicly accessible toilets. But many had locks on the doors and you had to put in a coin to use them. Pay toilets created a system of haves and have nots when it...

Highlights

This podcast delves into the complexities surrounding public restroom access in the U.S., tracing its history from pay toilets to the current challenges. It explores how societal movements and economic factors have shaped our relationship with public restrooms, leaving many without reliable access.
00:00
Teddy Siegel compares finding a toilet to an opera aria.
03:01
Pay toilets made their debut at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.
13:04
The removal of pay toilets led to the disappearance of public restrooms by 1980.
16:42
Public toilets contribute to human well-being but are inadequately provided in the U.S.
19:54
Neither a pure market nor government solution is ideal for public toilets.

Chapters

How an Opera Singer Maps Urgent Bathroom Needs
00:00
Why Pay Toilets Were Once Commonplace
03:01
Did Banning Pay Toilets Solve Equity Issues?
09:31
Are Public Toilets a True Public Good?
16:42
Can We Find a Solution to the Bathroom Crisis?
19:54

Transcript

Erica Barris: This message comes from Andreessen Horowitz. Want to understand the future of business and tech? Web3 with A16Z Crypto explores the people, ideas, and innovations shaping digital transformation. Listen on your favorite podcast app or YouTube....