I don't get what it is with restrooms. In the US while out shopping it's not too hard to find a public restroom. Every grocery store or drug store or bookstore has one--small or big. If you just can't find one you can step into a McDonald's or any restaurant and walk straight to the restroom. The people working there couldn't care less. Obviously every store with employees has a bathroom, right? What's the big deal about letting someone use it?
Especially if you have kids. People know that kids have to pee, sometimes within seconds!
I am 8 months pregnant and sometimes have to use the bathroom RIGHT AWAY. The other day I was shopping. Thought the maternity and BABY CLOTHES store would let me use their bathroom. Climbed the stairs and was told no, I could not use their bathroom. The other day it was the same thing in a small grocery store. No, I could not use their bathroom. I had to cross the street and go to the gas station. I pointed out the fact that I am very pregnant. The 18 year old kid didn't care. I had a full basket I left on the floor and will never go there again.
One day I spent 30 minutes wandering around looking for the public restroom. I found it along with a huge line and someone charging money to use it. I had only bills of course.
The other day I pulled into a gas station to use their bathroom. There was a big sign on the door that said it was for customers only and you needed to ask for the key. I said I was so, so, so sorry but I really needed to use their restroom. The grumpy guy was so nice he only grumbled something for a few seconds before giving me the key.
The last time I went to McDonald's for the restroom there was a keypad on the door. I had to wait in line for 15 minutes to ask what the code was and I bought a milkshake because I did *not* want to be turned down at that point.
Why are bathrooms so protected and hidden and cost money? Really, if you have kids, what do you do when your kid has to go pee? Go around BEGGING store clerks to allow your child to use their restroom?
I'm American and never thought that I had the right to simply use the restroom at Barnes & Noble, for instance, if I was not buying anything. Even then, I've driven home the 20 minutes instead of asking.
I can easily understand why somebody at a small grocery store would tell you no -- they're a small business and it is for employees only. I do not know from what part of the US you are from / have lived in, but I have never seen bathrooms in a grocery store or in any normal-sized store for that matter (this does not cover larger department stores). Of course malls have them in the States, but don't Swiss shopping centers as well? I've used the one at Tägipark in Wettingen, for instance, and did not have to pay or ask for a key/code.
As to "public restrooms," some are actually free in CH, some are not. The WCs which are free tend to be rather filthy and are only free for men -- if you want to sit (i.e. are a woman) you have to pay. Now, you could make an argument there that that is sexist, and I agree. In terms of big train stations like Zürich, it makes perfect sense that they charge you for it. That money ensure that the bathrooms are well maintained.
When I first came to Basel Switzerland my mother-inlaw showed me where all the free/accessible bathrooms were in Basel. At the time I thought she was nuts, but it does come in handy when you have to go. It helps when you're on a bike because you can hit any bathroom within min's. The only bathroom I won't use is the one in Claraplatz that goes under ground, it's a crime scene waiting to happen.
Times like this I am glad to be a man!!! Stop on the side of the road, ahhhhh, 1 minute later driving again! (some people don't even stop! coke bottles can carry more than coke)
Have you gone into the malls and used theirs? You'll usually find the black lights that made you wish you were high so you could see straight!
I know I wouldn't want people knocking on my door to use mine, but when you need to go, well there are exceptions. (pregnant ladies especially)
Every decent size grocery store in the US has public toilets in the back of the store where they do the loading/unloading business. I've used them a millions times and never had anybody say anything to me about it.
Most normal size stores will let you use their bathroom as well in the US. I've never been turned down but I also don't look like "a street person"
I am a little confused though why a person would drive 20 minutes home to use a bathroom when a perfectly good one would be available in a store they might be in or a gas station.
I've found though in Europe if you just walk into a restroom and head straight for the loo nobody is going to say anything to you if you don't purchase something. What are they gonna do, hold you there until the polizei come and get you for trespassing?
errrmmm - well, maybe, maybe not. I was waiting patiently for the next available stall at the McClean in the Zurich HB, because the only available stall had no toilet seat. With my 8 lessons of German to date, when the attendant guy tried to tell me to use it, I explained as best I could that for my 2 CHF, I actually wanted to have a seat to sit on. At one point I think the guy was suggesting that I use the mens side, but I we haven't covered toilet terminology in German class yet, so I didn't know how to ask if they had seats (wasn't sure if I was being referred to the pissoir ). Then a girl came who spoke English, and she starts giving me sh*t because I wont use that stall. In the mean time 2 people pass me to use recently vacated stalls. So lets see, I'm quietly waiting in line for next fully equipped stall, and the employees start giving me grief like I'm making a scene? No thanks.
I came out telling my husband I will pee myself or use the train loo before I will ever pay them their 2 CHF again. You can't be sure you are getting a clean, maintained facility, and I don't need to pay 2 CHF for someone to give me crap - lots of folks out there willing to do that for free.
All you need to do is to look for a Migros or Coop restaurant. Their toilets are clean and don't require a pin-code.
Or McDonalds of any other fast food joint. You could either proceed to the cashier point and ask for the code or look for any receipt. These restaurants have the pin-code in question printed on the receipt.
Easy peasy.
The reason why most of the toilets are locked is to deter junkies from scoring a hit in them.
Of course, should you be in England and can't find a convenience, ask the local Bobby for his helmet. He's obliged to allow a pregnant woman to use it when asked... Also, men are allowed to use the off-side front wheel of a stationary vehicle. Just be careful of oncoming traffic...
Sparkling golden wit aside, has anyone else found the motorway services operated by Mövenpick a rip-off when wanting to use the WC? The Marche chain charge CHF1 if you want to use their Lavatories. I find this terrible: surely the franchise agreement to run the monopoly on these places shouldn't allow the company to profit from peoples need for ...convenience?
You get your money back the following visit you make to the restaurant or shop. Not the same day. Not much good if you're, er, passing through.
I asked a manager of a service area near Heidiland why they did this: he told me it was because of "Gypsies and drug addicts" damaging the facilities. The charge was to fund additional security and cleaning staff.
A good tip, when in England, you're walking past a row of houses and you're in dire need of a slash, don't despair, what might look like a door is in fact a public lavatory, help yourself in the in knowledge that the house owner will not mind in the slightest. Furthermore, that tiny piece of shrubbery in front of the house is meant as a rubbish collector, carnivorous plants will digest whatever burger box or can of lager you discard in it, a gesture the owner will also appreciate.
You have driven 20 minutes home instead of using the restroom at Barnes and Noble? I have spent thousands of dollars at that store and felt totally happy to use their clean, public restrooms when needed even if I wasn't buying anything.
All grocery stores in America have bathrooms you can use. If not public you can ask and they always let you use them. Especially if you have small children! As for the grocery store in Switzerland...you can understand why they didn't let me use their restroom? Like I said I'm 8 months pregnant. I had a full basket of items from their store worth 100 CHF. Sometimes it takes a while to shop and if you need a restroom it makes more sense to use one in the store rather than walk two blocks to use a public one while deserting your full cart for 20 minutes.
When I'm out and shopping in a city center, I am usually 30-45 minutes away from my toilet at home. Sometimes further if I took the train or tram.
Not every old lady or pregnant woman or 3 year old child can wait 45 minutes to use the bathroom.