NYC deploys robotoilets. The public bathrooms have a strict 10-minute time limit.
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NYC deploys robotoilets. The public bathrooms have a strict 10-minute time limit.

Gothamist business

Key Points:

  • New York City has launched a pilot program introducing 17 high-tech modular public restrooms, called "robotoilets," to improve access to clean and safe bathrooms for residents on the go, with two already operational and more to be installed soon.
  • These restrooms require users to unlock doors via smartphone text or special tap cards distributed by community partners, and enforce a strict 10-minute usage limit with automated voice alerts and doors that open automatically when time expires.
  • The toilets are designed to be hygienic and modern, featuring free pad dispensers and decorative plant-themed wallpaper, and are more cost-effective to install as they do not connect to the city's sewer and water systems.
  • Advocates for the homeless have expressed concern that the access methods may exclude those without smartphones or tap cards, warning that the new facilities alone will not fully address the city's public bathroom shortage and related issues.
  • Locations for the new restrooms span all five boroughs, including high-traffic areas such as Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Columbus Park in Brooklyn, and Cooper Square in Manhattan, with installation continuing in the coming weeks.

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