There are several reasons that gender neutral bathrooms will soon replace separated men's and women's bathrooms, and they have nothing to do with gender identity, explains Jimmy Parker, event producer and former BID director.
Gender neutral bathrooms are just better. It has nothing to do with gender identity or current affairs. There are several reasons that gender neutral bathrooms will soon replace separate men's and women's bathrooms, explains event producer and the long time president of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter Association—a Businsess Improvement District. A few of the reasons include:
Benefits
Once you begin to design standardized approaches to public restroom facilities, certain benefits will be realized. Here are a few:
- No need to calculate use based on demographics.
- No duplication of hand wash stations, signage, lighting, and general access corridors
- Easier family use (Fathers with daughters, Mother with sons)
- Easier calculation/conformance with ADA standards
Safety
This area seems to be where the greatest passion exists on both sides of the political debate, but I would ask the reader to consider the following:
- Unisex restrooms (shared areas) are easier to patrol with security personnel. With separate facilities, sex-specific guards need to be available to respond to emergencies/concerns.
- Greater traffic increases safety. The potential of swifter response to inappropriate behavior is a great deterrent.
- Children can be accompanied by both parents/grandparents. Especially important with multiple children.
- Stalls, unlike urinal dividers, can be re-enforced to provide better (not complete) protection when people need to shelter in place during violent incidents.
Parker concludes by asking planners and municipalities to remove remove regulatory obstacles to their implementation and to develop standards to allow all large scales public projects to have gender neutral bathroom facilities.
FULL STORY: A Planner’s Opportunity – Gender Neutral Facilities
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