Artwork

Content provided by NPR. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by NPR or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Why it's so hard to find a public toilet

24:07
 
Share
 

Manage episode 480284136 series 1324387
Content provided by NPR. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by NPR or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Why is it so hard to find a bathroom when you need one?
In the U.S., we used to have lots of publicly accessible toilets. But many had locks on the doors and you had to put in a coin to use them. Pay toilets created a system of haves and have nots when it came to bathroom access. So in the 60s, movements sprung up to ban pay toilets.
Problem is: when the pay toilets went away, so too did many free public toilets.
Today on the show, how toilets exist in a legal and economic netherworld; they're not quite a public good, not quite a problem the free market can solve.
Why we're stuck, needing to go, with nowhere to go.
This episode was produced by Willa Rubin with help from James Sneed. It was edited by Marianne McCune and engineered by Cena Loffredo. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.
Find more
Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support
Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: Audio Network - "Smoke Rings," "Can't Walk Away" and "Bright Crystals."

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
  continue reading

1288 episodes

Artwork

Why it's so hard to find a public toilet

Planet Money

282,800 subscribers

published

iconShare
 
Manage episode 480284136 series 1324387
Content provided by NPR. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by NPR or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Why is it so hard to find a bathroom when you need one?
In the U.S., we used to have lots of publicly accessible toilets. But many had locks on the doors and you had to put in a coin to use them. Pay toilets created a system of haves and have nots when it came to bathroom access. So in the 60s, movements sprung up to ban pay toilets.
Problem is: when the pay toilets went away, so too did many free public toilets.
Today on the show, how toilets exist in a legal and economic netherworld; they're not quite a public good, not quite a problem the free market can solve.
Why we're stuck, needing to go, with nowhere to go.
This episode was produced by Willa Rubin with help from James Sneed. It was edited by Marianne McCune and engineered by Cena Loffredo. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.
Find more
Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support
Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: Audio Network - "Smoke Rings," "Can't Walk Away" and "Bright Crystals."

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
  continue reading

1288 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Quick Reference Guide

Listen to this show while you explore
Play