City Announces Next Round of Public Toilet Locations
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2008/pr08_014.shtml
Public toilets...strange? convenient? whoa? suh-weet? In my opinion, they're strange and out of place. Definitely take a look at the press release. If you're too lazy (or too busy, which I doubt since you're reading this blog) to read the release check out these excerpts from it:
Like the title of today's post, these public bathrooms are something I just can't explain. They probably exist more as advertising surfaces than as "essential part[s] of a livable city". To those people excited about the emergence of public toilets, a suggestion. If you're looking forward to the new public toilet going up in Lippmann Plaza in Flushing don't bother. Just head on over a block west to the new Queens Crossing mall-ish thing/food court thing. They have a decent, sanitary bathroom that doesn't require you to buy anything (if you did you'd have to buy a five dollar slice of pizza just to use the bathroom). If that's too far go to McDonalds in Lippmann Plaza (I've actually never been in that bathroom, but I hear it exists). Macys across the street from Lippmann Plaza has bathrooms and no one should bug you there. Joe's Best Burger on Main Street requires a code, but just nicely ask any customer for the code or keep your eyes open for dropped reciepts. I think that new Red Mango (or w/e) place has bathrooms too. Hmmm...I just had a thought (apparently this is a stream-of-consciousness blog now). Perhaps the new public bathrooms are in place to appeal to tourists! Perhaps it's a sign that the city is trying to turn Flushing into a tourist-trap! I know they're gentrifying it, but tourist-trapping a place is the absolute worst thing a city can do. Looks like I can explain it now.'The APTs clean themselves after each use, and tamper-proof automatic doors that open from the inside will ensure security." - OK, not so strange yet. A bit "armored vehicle-ish" but not too weird.
"The APTs cost 25 cents to operate, with a time limit of 15 minutes and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.... After 12 minutes of use, an acoustic alarm and red flashing lights go off for three minutes before the door opens." - OK, now it's getting to sound a bit "Apollo 13-ish".
"Once a user has exited, the APT doors will close and the 90-second automatic cleaning cycle will begin." - Thats wonderful, I bet by the time the first person goes and the console is cleaned half the people outside will have already pissed in their pants.
Final verdict: Public bathrooms are useless, they are for advertising, and they are signs that your community is an up and coming tourist-trap. On the plus side, they look pretty cool.
On a related note (not really) I'm really excited for next week. Not only am I graduating but I'm also going to be receiving Tracks of the New York City Subway in the mail. The book features:
"black & white track maps, showing every station, every track and all yard leads, all with their respective track numbers. The book is now 142 pages in length, spiral-bound in 8 1/2 x 11" format."For more information check out http://nyctrackbook.com/index.html.
That's it for now. Until next time, Mustard Yellow - out.
1 comment:
Hmm...the part about how there are already numerous (and nearly) free toilets in Flushing is definitely true. And YES! the McDonald's bathroom does exist! But a reality check though: Lippeman Plaza is kinda far from downtown downtown Flushing to be a huge tourist area other than for folks passing btwn the parking lot and Roosevelt Ave. Unless more commercial is zoned East (which would mean demolishing some residential and redeveloping small businesses), that toilet will receive few visits. Although it would remain relatively clean!
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