That depends on the state/municipality. In my hometown there were zero public bathrooms available. That’s since changed because only really wealthy boomers can afford homes there so more businesses have them.
Comment on Is America Really That Bad?
mojo@lemm.ee 10 months agoYou just walk into a starbucks or a gas station. They’re all in businesses, but saying you have to make a purchase is straight up false.
EhList@lemmy.world 10 months ago
guangming@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Even when you CAN do this, it’s usually because the employees are either kind enough or inattentive enough to let you do this. And if you are clearly unhoused or poor, your chances of being able to do this are much, much lower than if you can fit in in a middle class white area. (Restaurants with predominantly poor clientele or many homeless people nearby tend to be much stricter about this.)
ChronosWing@lemmy.zip 10 months ago
Starbucks is iffy but I’ve traveled nearly every state and never once have I been to a gas station that required a purchase to use the restroom.
NSFGiraffe@lemmynsfw.com 10 months ago
Here’s what everyone isn’t getting.
Public bathrooms are accessible to those that contribute to society.
Not saying this is right, it’s just how it is. Even places that have a “purchase policy” don’t care, the policy only exists to keep problems to a minimum and is usually only enforced against those that look like they might cause problems.
YOU have never been TOLD a gas station bathroom required a purchase. Likely because you pulled up in a vehicle and look normal enough. But I’m willing to bet money if you wander up on foot and look homeless you’ll find out they actually do have that policy.
I’ve been on all sides of this. As the strung out homeless kid that just wanted a quiet warm “nice” place to do my drugs. Then the struggling young adult having to wash blood, hair and literal shit off every surface in there. And then the manager having to enforce these policies because if I don’t my employees (or myself) have to go deal with whatever problems are created in the bathroom (and the WILL be a mess to clean up 98% of the time).
pascal@lemm.ee 10 months ago
In Switzerland, you have to pay $2 to use the restroom in gas station. But I totally prefer using those compared to the sanity standard of your average american gas station. I can be picky.
ChronosWing@lemmy.zip 10 months ago
Fair enough, gas station bathrooms in the states range from really good to don’t fucking touch anything.