A recommendation in the latest UNWTO brochure about reopening tourism in covid19 times (https://www.accessibletourism.org/resources/reopening-guidelines-unwto-20200730.pdf) is to “restrict usage of accessible toilets to those who need them”. How should this goal be achieved, in your opinion?
Also, more generally speaking: should an accessible restroom only be used by people with disabilities, should they have priority in using this facility, or should it be open to everybody? What’s your point of view?
carln1 and Josh Grisdale12 Comments-
I have encountered that the accessible toilet is often closed – before Covid – and when you ask why the answer is “to keep it clean and avoid that others use it”, but the thing it that this way you have usually to go and search for the person who has the keys and it is not always easy or straightforward. And it takes away precious time. The Radar Key system they have in the UK is brilliant, but I wonder if it is used also outside of the UK and Scotland? https://www.bluebadgecompany.co.uk/blog/radar-keys-locked-disabled-toilets-explained/
Yikes, a difficult question!
I know that some countries use a special key (UK, Aus., etc). This works for local residents, but can be a big issue for visitors from other countries (actually, I think there is a post about these keys on the forum) if they don’t know about the system or cannot get the key easily. This could be fixed by offering them for sale at arrival, but not ideal for tourists
In Japan, we don’t have any locks – just posters asking people to not use the separate toilets if they don’t need them. But, they are used sometimes obviously.
I personally am not sure where I stand in it. People have emergencies and it the only one available, I can wait in that situation. But if the tables are turned I cannot just use any available toilet…-
Here is that link to the discussion on the site:
https://www.tabifolk.com/forums/topic/wheelchair-accessible-toilets/ -
Thanks, Josh. Thing is: there’s more than one key system. Germany and some neighbour countries have the Euro WC Key, which is different from the UK Radar Key. There may be more.
Also; is this really what we want? I agree that this system is useful when a public restroom is left unattended (always better than locking it all together). In other cases, the accessible toilet has a good chance to end up as an expensive (and neglected) locker room because nobody uses it.
I’d rather lift the taboo, unless there’s a good reason otherwise. In my opinion, the UNWTO recommendation kind of disregards the issue of less visible disabilities. Not only wheelchair users may need an accessible loo.-
I like the key system but the fact that there are different ones can be complex of course. I guess if you are a seasoned traveller you end up with a bunch of toilet keys to take around with you :). But if the current toilet system with this key was more advertised towards the tourists and people also with less visible disabilities had information and access, or if the keys were on sale also in tourist offices so you can get one on the spot, this would seem a rather practical system. And an app to locate them. Of course, if there is a bathroom point where there are various toilets, then the accessible ones should just stay open (is it so difficult to make one for men and one for women?), better a toilet that may need a bit of desinfecting before using it than nothing at all.
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Yes, invisible disabilities is a big part – we have no idea and cannot judge others. Also, here in Japan, mothers/fathers with young children, as well as seniors use the accessible toilets.
I think it is also a numbers game. If there are only 3 toilets and one is accessible, that is fine to share. However, if there are 20 toilets, but only one accessible toilet, then it is nice if other users at least recognize some people cannot use them all and therefore would refrain from using it if possible.
But, isn’t education the best route? By putting up a poster or a commercial, or a class at school to educate others manners etc could eliminate many of the problems.-
Thank you. That’s a fair way to put it. I just want to avoid … this.
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Oh no! Does that happen often?
Here is a poster from Japan about using accessible toilets-
(you’ll need to download the PDF to see the second page)
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I like this poster! It’s welcoming to a range of visitors and explaining to everybody the importance of these facilities. For many people, also in my country, accessibility still often equals ‘for wheelchair users only’. This leads to an overly protective approach, from staff and customers alike, and consequently to facilities that are rarely used and eventually considered a waste of space. Hence the ‘alternative uses’ as an expensive storage room for furniture, stock, cleaning equipment, etc. I seriously doubt if the introduction of a toilet key will change this phenomenon. But a poster like this certainly could helpt!
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That’s interesting. Although there are already a lot of PWD toilets already established in the Philippines, it really comes down to people’s discipline.
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Based on experiences, There are numerous times where people (non disabled) will still use it even if there are already vacant stalls on their respective. To remedy that, some malls lock it with keys (similar to what Josh said) and you have to call in the people who takes care of it. If you are lucky, there are electronic doorbells to call them as well. However, there are instances where no one will answer your call so you have to use the normal toilet anyway.
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I think it is great for people with disabilities to have priority access and UNWTO may be right but depends on the location and country. But that’s just my two cents.-
Thank you for your input, Carl. The situation you describe is much like what I’ve been used to all my life. Greetings from Belgium.
