Not sure whether this is a win or a loss...

[pauamma]

Public library with 2 1-person-at-a-time bathrooms, one for men, one for women, both(*) with a sink and both wheelchair-accessible (or intended to - I'm not an expert or even an enlightened amateur). I think that it would be possible to fit 2 AB-only bathrooms (1 for men and 1 for women) and 1 (unisex) wheelchair-accessible bathroom within the same footprint as the layout I described, and I'm curious: which layout would likely lead to less contention?

(*) Technically making an assumption there, since I checked only one, but I'm not a Fair Witness.

Comments

[azurelunatic]

Did the one you checked also have a changing table?

[pauamma]

I didn't look for one, but I don't think it did. I can see that being failish for reasons unrelated to the possible contention problem, if the other one did. But I think that library is read-on-premises only, which wouldn't make it suitable for anything except quick stays by children younger than potty-training age. If my impression is correct, it might justify the complete lack of changing boards anywhere.

[attie]

Don't knock on the toddlers. My mother used to take me along all the time when she was writing her thesis, and I was 2 years old. All the staff knew me, and not in a bad way at all.

I also went to class with her when I was even younger. I guess I always was a very quiet person!

[cesy]

If you're only going to have a couple of bathrooms, and they're the type with a sink inside, why not make them both unisex?

[pauamma]

No clue. I didn't design that library. :-)

[jumpuphigh]

Depending on where the building is located, some places will not approve unisex bathrooms when you are getting permits. (Yes, I know that is ridiculous but it is something I have come up against.)

[jesse_the_k]

In re: contention, the any-gender larger 1-seater is a win. If it's big enough, not only will it work for a wheelchair user, it will work for a wheelchair user plus an aide/family member. Plus, as a single-seater it works for people on any part of the gender spectrum.

[exor674]

In stalled restrooms, people who (probably) don't need the larger stall always seem to use it anyway -- I don't see how going from two wheelchair-accessible rooms down to one would help -- making both unisex would have made sense.

[pauamma]

They're not stalled restrooms. Each is a separate restroom with one toilet and one sink. Enter, lock the door behind you, use the toilet, use the sink, unlock the door, leave. So in effect, even though I don't need the wheelchair-accessible restroom, I have no choice except use it, with that layout.

[exor674]

Yeah, I understand that -- what i was getting at was that, if one used your proposed solution, AB people would still use the wheelchair accessible room, even if the other rooms were free.