Public toilets are usually associated with a pay system. However, in countries like the US, paying for public urinals have been made illegal. In other nations, there is one free toilet for every four to five pay toilets.

Overview of Public Toilets

Public facilities often have many toilets partitioned by stalls, and they are separate for men and women. However, the washing area may be common to both sexes.

Men's pay toilets have separate urinals, which are either wall-mounted for individual use or are a constantly draining basin or trough for collective use. Wall-mounted urinals sometimes are further separated by small partitions or other obstructions for privacy.

Public toilets located around parks, in the street, or at entertainment venues sometimes have no gender differentiation, there are cubicles, and the facilities vary from simple devices requiring minimum or no plumbing to deluxe versions that has automatic cleaning facilities.

Some public urinals have no walls surrounding them, are open spaces and are meant for urination only. These facilities are exclusively for men.

Public Toilet Features

Public toilets are usually gender differentiated, i.e. between men and women. This results in embarrassing situations for transsexuals and homosexuals. Many existing public toilets are unbiased to gender stipulation. Additionally, some public places, universities and offices also provide individual washrooms that are not any particular sex specific.

 

The latest addition to public toilets is the "family restroom". They are unisex, and contain multiple stalls designed for maximum privacy and a communal washing area for use by both genders. The family restroom has greatly facilitated parents with a young child of the opposite sex. She/he can now assist the child to the bathroom without feeling any uneasiness related to single gender restrooms.

Benefits of Public Toilets

A significant advantage afforded by these toilets for the public is their easy accessibility to the disabled and handicapped persons. They are also well equipped for facilitating people using wheelchairs or with mobility problems.