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AIBU

AIBU to wish toilet cubicles were a decent size.

(15 Posts)
Nandalot Sun 26-Jul-26 15:08:02

I try to avoid public toilets but had to visit one at the theatre yesterday. I knew it would be bad when the lady before me, a very slender person, told me it was very narrow bd a real squeeze. It was. You had to squash up right next to the toilet to be able to shut the door. This is a common occurrence. It wasn’t an old Victorian theatre and the toilets were located in the modern bar extension next door so no excuse really for this.
I really think architects should visit the buildings after they are built to find out if they actually function as they should.

BoggledMind Sun 26-Jul-26 15:41:29

Toilet cubicle dimensions are governed by building regulations, some of which have evolved over the years. The solution would be to have doors opening outwards, as is the case already in some toilets.

Youngerthanspringtime Sun 26-Jul-26 15:46:08

I think at railway stations etc they should be bigger, it can be difficult to manoevre your suitcase plus your bag into them.
Agree about the doors opening outwards, it helps hugely.
They should all be like that at stations etc.

Aveline Sun 26-Jul-26 15:46:10

Sometimes the door would have to be open to accommodate my knees!!
Also they don't all have a hook for my bag.

Septimia Sun 26-Jul-26 15:49:37

Some public toilets are very cramped and it can't be hygienic to have to rub against the toilet bowl to get around the door - and that's when you're slim. It must be impossible for larger people. Having to squeeze past the bowl really annoys me.

As suggested, outward-opening doors would help a lot.

It also annoys me when there's nowhere to hang your handbag (who wants to put it on the floor?).

Labradora Sun 26-Jul-26 16:01:43

Don't mention the loos in an aeroplane although obviously space is at a premium on an aircraft.
I could barely fit in and I am averageish size.Many males are bigger than women just because they are men.
Those who can't, wait , I suppose.

SueDonim Sun 26-Jul-26 16:32:05

There are a couple of places here where the only toilet is also the disabled one. They don’t have hooks for bags/coats in them. I asked staff if they could install hooks and was told they couldn’t do that because anyone in a wheelchair wouldn’t be able to reach up to a hook to use it.

I suggested they could put hooks in lower down the wall/door so most people could reach it and they looked at me as if I’d grown two heads! Honestly. hmm

Mostly, it’s getting into cubicles with small grandchildren that challenges me. Thankfully, nowadays all but one can mange the loo on their own.

Gran22boys Sun 26-Jul-26 17:18:49

Don’t start me off on public toilets! Seems to me that everywhere I go lately the old Ladies and Gents are being replaced with unisex loos. Not for me! Puts me off going to some places. I’m very fussy about public toilets so am starting to think about going behind the nearest bush.

62Granny Sun 26-Jul-26 17:20:26

The height of most toilets get me I feel as if I plonk down with a bump , then wonder how I am going to get back up to a standing position without any thing to grab onto, I have bad knees but don't like to use a disabled loo, but I am going to start.

Grammaretto Sun 26-Jul-26 17:30:35

Airport toilets tend to be a decent size but railway stations are usually too small and as for bus stations!
The only thing worse is attempting to use the toilet on the bus. You'd have to be desperate.

Shops which offer facilities make sure you have to find them on the top floor. Such is M&S in Princes Street. John Lewis, also Edinburgh is better but not too convenient.

Our community store has decent sized toilets and a disabled/baby change one but we are hoping to build one with a hoist for really disabled people. There's one in IKEA but that's all.

MT62 Sun 26-Jul-26 17:31:14

Worst one for me was a McDonald’s in Spain . I had to climb over the toilet to close the door😩 I wouldn’t even manage to do that today.

Nandalot Sun 26-Jul-26 17:35:43

Apparently, there should be a 450 mm diameter area allowed for movement. However, the statutory requirement for public toilets is only for a minimum depth of 1500mm. However, this does not seem compatible with the reality. A public toilet door has a minimum width of 600mm. The shortest toilet projection I could find from wall to front of pan is 600mm. To me, that gives only the possibility of a 300mm gap between open door and pan.
I know. I am taking this too far, but I was upset at having my lovely dress pressed up against the toilet pan.
Yes, I agree, the doors should open outwards, problem solved. Yes, there should be a hook for your bag. There wasn’t one of those either.

Greenfinch Sun 26-Jul-26 17:47:48

I am with you 62Granny.

Elegran Sun 26-Jul-26 18:19:17

It gets worse when in a small toilet cubicle there is a large toilet roll holder fixed to the wall just inside the opening door. It takes up half the space you are trying to squeeze yourself into while you close the door.The workman fitting it has opened the door, and has stood with his back against that to attach the paper-holder to the wall. Meanwhile there is a space on the opposite wall between door and toilet where the holder would just fit. When I come across one of these torture chambers I try to find someone to tell about it. Sometimes I have even found it has been fixed when I next visit. Not often.

I won't start another rant about the sanitary bins that are taller than the toilet bowl they stand beside, and press against the side of your naked flesh. Why not fit ones that are lower than the bowl?

Charleygirl5 Sun 26-Jul-26 18:55:10

In my local Waitrose there are 2 ordinary loos with one smaller than the other. To get into the small one, I have to shuffle in sideways and then it is a nightmare getting the door closed. I have used the disabled loo next door once, it appears to be permanently out of order.