Here at On Site, we believe that public restrooms are the silent heroes of every city. Unfortunately, very few people stop to appreciate the convenience and comfort that they provide. In most cases, these invaluable facilities only enter the public spotlight and become a topic of discussion when they fail to meet the needs and preferences of users due to lack of quality or availability. If you’ve ever struggled to find a place to relieve yourself in a public space, odds are good that this question popped into your head: Does my city have enough restrooms? Today, we’ll help you find the answer.
First and foremost, let’s establish why having enough public bathrooms in your city is so important.
The Importance of Public Restrooms
Public restrooms come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In fact, each state in the U.S. has a different basic building code that dictates the proper construction and maintenance requirements of its public facilities. Generally speaking, all public bathrooms must have the following features:
- An adequate supply of hot and cold water
- Easily cleanable receptacles for waste materials
- Readily available hand towels or warm air blowers and soap
- Screened outer openings to prevent access by vermin and insects
- Adequate lighting, heating and ventilation
All of these components are essential to make the process of using the bathroom a pleasant and comfortable experience. If users aren’t provided with these features, they are much less likely to make use of the public spaces where these facilities reside. The same is true when citizens aren’t given enough public bathrooms. After all, why would you bother spending your valuable time in places that can’t meet your basic needs?
Consequently, cities that don’t offer enough restrooms for residents often see a sharp decrease in economic success and growth. That’s because their citizens are electing to stay at home or other locations where they’re guaranteed a bathroom when they need one (and because potential visitors are forgoing them in favor of more accommodating municipalities). If your city isn’t providing you with a sufficient number of public bathrooms, you are being cheated out of the full experience of living and working there, particularly if you’re the owner of a business that relies on local and tourist patronage.
Determining How Many Bathrooms a Space Needs
Believe it or not, assessing how many bathrooms that any given space needs can be incredibly challenging. To do so, you need to pinpoint approximate population numbers for that area throughout the year and the amount of time that visitors will be spending in it during each stay. If you go to the park one afternoon and have to wait for ten minutes to use the bathroom, you might think that your local government isn’t supplying its citizens with enough bathrooms, but that single experience could just be an isolated incident. However, if you’ve noticed consistent bathroom shortages in one of your city’s locations, then it might be time to reach out to other people in your community and create a petition.
Petitioning Your Local Government for More Public Bathrooms
You don’t have to be a massive public figure or activist in order to make a petition. All you need to get started is a basic online template. From there, you’ll briefly explain the topic and what changes you would like to be implemented. Be sure to look through this article if you need more tips and advice on how to write an effective petition. (Furthermore, bear in mind that you can create online petitions for free.)
The most difficult aspect of writing up an appeal is acquiring signatures from fellow citizens. Fortunately, you can make use of social media and other communication tools to connect with people who share your stance on the city’s shortage of toilets. Alternatively, you can visit the public area that lacks bathrooms and personally ask people to sign. Just be ready to give a quick and simple pitch to explain the problem to them once you’ve introduced yourself.
Remember, the officials who will receive your petition are much more likely to respond if you have a long list of signatures, so try to get as many as possible. That’s the best way to show them that there is a real and urgent need for change. Once your petition is complete, all you have to do is send it to your city’s officials. This process will differ depending on how your municipality handles appeals. If you’re having issues with this step, then head over to your city’s official website to contact a representative and get things moving.
Order Portable Restrooms From On Site Today
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about public restrooms and what you can do to affect positive changes in your city’s sanitation. If you have any other questions about this topic or are interested in renting porta potties or portable bathroom trailers for an upcoming event or project, then don’t hesitate to contact us today. On Site offers a wide range of high-quality products and sanitation solutions for any occasion.
