Pay Toilets in Europe

Pay Toilets in Europe

A pay toilet is a public toilet which customers must pay to use. They
once were common in the US, but after the 1970’s they lost popularity
because of gender discrimination since men could use urinals for free and yet
women had to pay for a stall. Though not popular, there are still some
around in the US. In Europe, pay toilets are still largely popular. Some are
coin-operated, while others have an attendant who you pay. In some places
where the toilets are free, it is still customary to tip the attendant for their
services. They can be found at gas stations, bus stations, rail stations, and in
busy public areas. Criticism of pay toilets cites the public health
consequences caused by open defecation of the homeless or poor who
cannot afford the fee. Also, some landlords have been caught using the close
proximity of public pay toilets as an excuse not to install private toilets in
their homes. Alternatively, those in support of pay toilets claim that the small
use fee generates enough revenue to cover cleaning and upkeep fees of
public restrooms which are relatively accessible. In many cases since pay
toilets have been removed in large US cities, people have a hard time finding
open public restrooms. Pay toilets can make that easier.
In London, pay toilets range from 20p to half a pound. (Half a pound is
currently the equivalent of about 65¢.)
In Paris, they used to be about half a Euro (currently equal to just over 50¢),
but now most are free.
Those in Brussels are about 50¢, but there are also free outdoor urinals for
men.