We use restrooms as needed wherever we are. Sometimes we buy, sometimes not. It has never been a problem.
I really feel sorry for the homeless, who can’t afford to buy a beverage just so they can use a restroom. I wish there were more restrooms for the general public, open to the homeless and everyone else.
Sadly, vandalism is a huge problem for some of the public restrooms. Our city can’t keep up. As soon as they repair the bathroom, it’s busted again and costs a lot to repair.
I have many times. I’ve never been told I couldn’t.
Related tangent: my family owned a full service gas station growing up. We lived right next door. One time I clearly remember some woman having her young son pee in our yard. My mom was soooo mad, telling her there is a bathroom available right next door!
@“great lakes mom”
In what ways is the new library built with the homeless in mind?
The main Seattle library has had several issues with homeless in their public bathrooms. People were sleeping and “bathing” themselves in them. Don’t think they found a solution.
My own public library in a very nice middle class neighborhood has had public bathroom issues. Finding empty liquor bottles in them.
Not too long ago there was a national news report where addicts were using the public bathrooms in Boston at the statehouse to shoot up in.
Yes, security guards at the libraries and shopping malls have to be sure homeless don’t disturb other patrons as some can get loud or aggressive, depending.
Some cities (San Diego, maybe) IIRC, tried putting stand alone public restrooms on the streets. They soon became cribs for prostitutes.
If places don’t put in the keypads or locks, the homeless use the restrooms to bathe in the sink. That gets water all over the floor creating a mess and a slipping hazard. Filthy restrooms drive paying customers away. Without paying customers, businesses close.
A similar thing is happening on the LA Metro system. The Times ran a long article last week. Commuters are sick and tired of sitting down on warm, wet seats! Or stepping in piles of feces. This drives ridership down obviously.
Starbucks just put out a message that they are closing corporate and corporate stores so that everyone can receive racial bias training. Amazing response.
I also just read Melissa DiPino’s Op-Ed on CNN.com. She is the woman who was in Starbucks at the time of the incident and filmed and uploaded the video. She is a friend of a friend and I read her response on a Facebook post. Very nicely worded opinion piece.
I’m going to a meeting with my day of coordinator tomorrow at a cafe. I’ll sit there and not order anything and see what happens. (Unless I get thirsty).
I have never used a bathroom in a store, gas station or restaurant without making a purchase. I was taught that it is rude to do so.
I have no looks and no money. All I have is my integrity.
Integrity is important, irrespective of looks and money. Some of those who had looks and money are learning this the hard way. 
@HImom you live in a different world then I do…or you never turn the tv on, which I can respect.
Yeah, we rarely ever watch the TV…no idea why we still have cable. We mostly have it for the rare times our kids visit. The people I choose to associate with DO have integrity. I try to minimize interactions with those who don’t. It’s just too tiring and frustrating.
I don’t watch TV either, but I do work with people from every end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Approach most people with integrity and good will, and usually it is returned. For the rest, a strong sense of personal boundaries is useful.
Regarding libraries being set up for the homeless, here is an older article.http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/can-remodeled-library-attract-public-suit-homeless/article_b6913072-f1c9-11df-9464-001cc4c002e0.html One of the more important points I remember is to not have locking doors or any doors that can be barricaded in the restrooms. Serpentine entrances were designed to avoid people barricading the doors to bathe, and worse.
I usually will by a token item if I use their restroom. Occasionally - especially if there is a long line of people waiting to order - I’ve not made a purchase.
On another somewhat related note, I’ve noticed a considerably number of businesses that used to let customers use their restrooms no longer do so. Most of these are family run places in older or smaller buildings. There are a couple of chain store that now also display ‘no public restroom’ signs.
Turns out there are ADA lawyers running thru the county trying to trap the business owners. A non-food business is not required to have public restrooms. They are only required to provide access to their employees. Those restrooms do not need to be brought up to ADA standards unless an owner undertakes a remodel or otherwise modifies the building.
The trap works as follows: the store let’s a mom use the restroom with her toddler. Next up is an individual who requires an ADA accessible restroom. The store can not accommodate this individual and have now violated the law because they aren’t granting equal access. If on the other hand they simply do not let anyone other than employees use their restroom then they are in compliance.
Weird world.
It has to be a lot more than accessible. I defend these cases in my work. If the toilet paper holder is an inch too high you are in trouble.
Interesting thread…
I have never considered it an issue to use a restroom in a large store (department, Target, Home Depot, grocery) without purchasing something. However, I will think twice before doing so in a McDonald’s, Starbucks etc. I do feel a little guilty doing so, but I still do. It’s a lot harder to do it if I have to walk right past the counter or ask for a code. In those cases, I’ll buy a small item.
Last week I had to go to the doctor an hour away from my house. I went through the McDonald’s drive thru in my town and made a purchase. An hour later, I stopped at the next town and used that McDonald’s restroom. I didn’t make a purchase at that McDonald’s. I sadly couldn’t wait until I got to the doctor office.
I’ve been thinking about this, but I really don’t think I would change things in that case. In small towns, it’s hard when you don’t have interstates and rest areas.
When we are on the road, we either stop at roadside rests or stop for gas or food, so we make purchases 99% of the time. We didn’t one time on our last trip but only because the line was long and they didn’t have any caffeine free soda. Or I would have.
I will try and find a designated rest room if I can, but it’s not always possible. And it seems that as I age I have to use a restroom more often.
I fail to see why discovering that a business is not in compliance with a 30 year old law constitutes “trapping.” If they don’t want to be sued, they always have the option of obeying the law.
My mom uses a wheelchair. I appreciate businesses that follow the law.
@Cardinal fang…The point is those businesses are not required to provide a compliant bathroom. They were kind enough to let their customers use their non-compliant facilities. Now they can’t/don’t because of fear of legal retribution.
If every business after having established itself, had to upgrade each time there was a charge in the building code there would be no small businesses. Your cobbler, that’s been in that shop for 40 years with the same counter and a loyal clientele would have to revamp his whole front reception area. That funky little sandwich shop which doesn’t have seating but serves from a counter with narrow access across a warped floor - eh - out of business because putting in a ramp, a wide door and the appropriate parking would be physically impossible and financially unfeasible. Forget history buildings - tear them down.
If you, as an individual need to start complying with every law made AFTER you purchased your home you will need to rewire, re-plumb, rebuild bathrooms, rewire the lighting and …and …and every few years. There is a reason building codes are grandfathered (oh dear…a gendered term). It’s called sanity and survival.
Have you brought either your or your mother’s home up to full ADA compliance as required by the law for any new buildings? Have the sinks and counters been set at a lower level? Do the bathrooms in your home allow for wheelchair access. Consider how life would be if you needed to bring all of your stuff up to compliance - not just for the ADA but for all other code changes.