A toilet issue under much attention
( 2003-12-04 16:24) (Agencies)
A harsh inequity of being a
woman is suffering long lines at public toilets while men come and go with
barely any delay. Now New York wants to do something about it.
New York's City Council introduced legislation that would double the number
of public bathrooms for women by making it mandatory that large buildings and
public spaces have a two-to-one ratio of women's to men's rooms.
"For too long now women have had to stand in line and watch our male
counterparts traipsing through restrooms with ease while we waste valuable time
waiting in line to use that convenience," said the bill's sponsor, Yvette
Clarke, a Democratic councilwoman from Brooklyn.
The Restroom Equity Bill requires all renovations and new construction in New
York to provide more women's bathrooms in all public areas.
"For men it's a plus for you, too, because many of you stand holding our
packages while we are waiting in line to use the restrooms," Clarke said. "We
don't have the same type of equipment that you men have and it requires gentle
procedures. At certain times that's much more time consuming."
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