New York City Launches First Coin-Operated Pay-to-Pottie Toilets

The first of New York City’s twenty automated self cleaning toilets opened its sliding doors to the public recently. The glass and steel toilets which are the size of a newsstand are part of a billion dollar arrangement with Spanish street furniture company Cemusa to provide the city with matching bike racks, pay toilets and bus shutters.

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The sliding doors open when you make a deposit of 25 cents, and users will have a full 15 minutes of privacy before the doors automatically open. (Might not be a good idea to dart into one when you’re having a no-go day) No chances of sudden surprises here — there will an alarm and a warning light flashing ninety seconds before the doors open. The toilets also self clean during this period.

It’s a sweet deal for the city — Cemusa will actually pay New York a cool $1 billion for advertising on the structures that are part of the arrangement, and an additional $400 million for advertising on the structures the company operates outside the city.

  1. The first couple of things that come to mind are great it is about time! Europe has had similar operations since I have been a visitor. But some of the bad things that come to mind are crime, and lines. Before long there could be a racket on these type facilities with people charging more by location and accessibility.

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