Made-in-Kamloops solution needed for public washrooms

KAMLOOPS — WE NEED TO RETHINK public washrooms.

First of all, there aren’t enough of them. If Nature calls when you’re shopping downtown or on the Tranquille strip, for example, better hope you can find a friendly coffee shop or restaurant that will forgive the intrusion.

Private businesses, though, shouldn’t have to carry the load for the bodily functions of non-customers.

And if you’re in a public park, you have to contend with a concrete-block bunker that reeks of urine, and you never know who might be in there.

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ARMCHAIR MAYOR

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Washrooms in public facilities — like libraries — are often used for all sorts of things that we won’t even discuss here because this is a family show. Injecting drugs is only one of them.

And, of course, there’s the matter of privacy. Nobody likes doing their business when somebody else is in the room. This is especially sensitive for transgendered people.

The issue of public washrooms came up this week at a police committee meeting when it was noted that the men’s washroom in McDonald Park is being used for sexual purposes.

Public washrooms need to be a part of urban planning, and the solutions aren’t easy.

The late Coun. Marg Spina was instrumental in getting a gender-neutral washroom in Riverside Park. It was a good start, but the work has only just begun.

The challenge is that our washroom habits are disgusting. Kamloops has looked at the Portland Loo, a stainless-steel contraption designed for easy maintenance and not much else.

It has a $90,000 price tag, looks like a livestock trailer and you may as well be taking care of business in a public square.

On the other hand, Michael J. Broyde, a U.S. law professor, contends public washrooms need to be totally redesigned for privacy, closer to what we have at home.

Nobody seems to have the real answer. A made-in-Kamloops solution is clearly called for.

By now, you’re feeling the urge to share a little toilet humour but let me assure you, this is one issue that can’t be flushed down the Thomas Crapper.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.