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  • Writer's pictureMs. Toilet

The Ultimate Guide to Bathrooms in NYC: Facts, Availability, and the Solution

Updated: Jan 31, 2023

New York City is the place to be, with endless sights, sounds, and experiences to explore. But let's face it, as much as we love the city, we all have to take care of our basic human needs, including using the bathroom. And unfortunately, the availability and accessibility of bathrooms in NYC can be a problem, leaving residents and visitors struggling to find a clean and accessible place.


Here are some unique facts about bathrooms in NYC!

There are over 6,000 public restrooms in NYC, but only about half of them are accessible to people with disabilities. This is a big problem as it means that half of the public restrooms are not accommodating the needs of people with disabilities, making it harder for them to find a restroom they can use.

The first public restroom in NYC was built in 1857 and was located in City Hall Park. This shows that the need for public restrooms is not a new problem, and the city has been struggling with providing accessible and available restrooms for over a century!

Every day, NYC's 14,000 sewer workers process 1.3 million gallons of sewage. This is a staggering amount and shows the enormity of the task of maintaining and cleaning public restrooms in such a densely populated city.



One of the most famous bathrooms in NYC is the one used by Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City. Even in popular culture, the issue of bathrooms in NYC is acknowledged and discussed. It just...hasn't been fixed.

There are more than 1,600 McDonald's restaurants in NYC, and each one has at least two bathrooms. While this may seem like a large number, it is important to remember that many are out of order, overwhelmed, and poorly serviced as fast food typically handles huge volumes of people. Unfortunately, these bathrooms have also become relatively overrun by the homeless population who drastically needs public services of their own, including safe and accessible bathrooms.

The annual Spring cleaning of all the public restrooms in NYC takes place over three days. While the city is making some effort to ensure that the public restrooms are clean, it does also highlight the need for more frequent cleaning and maintenance.

It is against the law to smoke inside a public restroom in NYC. Can't argue with this one, the 50s are long gone!



If you see a green sticker on a public restroom door, it means that the space has been inspected by the Department of Health and is safe to use. Green sticker? Go! This is a useful tool for finding safe and clean restrooms. And if there are no stickers around, or there is a red one, think twice before entering.

Famous authors like Truman Capote and Maya Angelou have worked as professional bathroom attendants in NYC nightclubs. Can you imagine? Doing your business, as usual, turn around and it's Maya Angelou?! That must have been insanely awesome!

It also allows you to pay a small fee to use semi-private bathrooms from restaurants the app partners with, making it an essential tool for finding a restroom in the city if you're tired of poorly kept public restrooms. Lulu is an innovative solution to the problem of finding an available and accessible restroom in NYC. It allows users to search for restrooms near their location and view information about the amenities and accessibility of each restroom. By using Lulu, you can avoid the hassle of searching for a restroom and ensure that the one you use is accessible, clean, and safe.

This app is a game changer for the residents and visitors of NYC, making it easier for them to navigate the city and find a restroom quickly and easily. Whether you are a tourist, a local, or someone with disabilities, Lulu's got your back...or erm...bottom?



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