Highlights

• “Ur In Luck” programme aims to increase the number of public toilets in NYC.
• New Google Maps feature shows the nearest public toilets across the city.
• 46 new toilets to be built and 36 existing toilets to be renovated.
• Locations include all five boroughs, addressing “toilet deserts” like Chinatown and Soho.

With a population of 8 million, New York City does not have enough toilets in public spaces.

According to some estimates there are only about 1,000 such facilities in the entire city.

This can be a huge problem, particularly for certain groups: children who need toilet access regularly, pregnant women who need easy access, older people and disabled people who find it hard if there are no toilets near them, and homeless people who have nowhere private to go.

Also, rideshare and delivery drivers often resort to going in bottles or parking lots because of the lack of facilities.

“Part of making New York City a more livable city is tackling the little things — the things we don’t think about until we need them,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement launching the effort, which his administration has dubbed “Ur in Luck.”

“Over the past three years, I’ve learned from my community that New York City’s lack of publicly accessible restrooms is not only a quality of life and public health issue, but it’s an equity crisis,” said New Yorker Teddy Siegel, whose own crowdsourced got2gonyc map lists more than 2,000 places to find a facility.

“Public bathrooms are essential to a well-managed and welcoming public realm,” the Alliance for Public Space Leadership, a local advocacy group, said in a statement. “They allow New Yorkers to use public space more often and for longer.”

“Need a bathroom, ‘ur in’ luck!” Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi said in the press release. “Everyone—seniors, parents with kids, anyone enjoying the day outdoors, needs access to a public bathroom without having to buy anything or beg for a code. Public bathrooms are critical infrastructure for New York City, where people are always out and about. We’re making New York City a little easier and more livable, one public restroom at a time.”

Track Your Toilets

To try and improve the situation, the Mayor Eric Adams has launched a new programme called “Ur In Luck”.

This programme aims to make more public toilets available.

The plan is to build 46 brand-new public toilets over the next 5 years.

It will also renovate 36 existing public toilets, making them more accessible by adding extra toilet stalls.

The new toilets will be spread across all 5 boroughs, with 10 new toilets in the Bronx, 23 in Brooklyn, 28 in Manhattan, 14 in Queens, and 7 on Staten Island.

As part of the programme, a new map on Google Maps shows where the nearest public toilet is in New York City right now.

However, this map reveals large areas of the city are “toilet deserts” with no public facilities at all, like Chinatown and Soho.

The new toilets will be spread across all 5 boroughs:

• 10 new toilets in the Bronx
• 23 in Brooklyn
• 28 in Manhattan 
• 14 in Queens
• 7 on Staten Island

There is a separate plan by the City Council to create 3,100 extra public toilets.

But the Mayor says he is not familiar with this plan yet.

So while efforts are being made, there is still a very long way to go to provide enough public toilets for everyone in New York City.

FAQs

What is the “Ur In Luck” programme?

“Ur In Luck” is an initiative by Mayor Eric Adams to increase the number of public toilets in New York City, including building 46 new toilets and renovating 36 existing ones.

How can I find the nearest public toilet in NYC?

A new feature on Google Maps now shows the locations of public toilets across New York City, making it easier to find the nearest one.

Which areas will benefit from the new public toilets?

The new toilets will be distributed across all five boroughs, including areas with a significant shortage of public facilities like Chinatown and Soho.

How many new public toilets will be added in each borough?

The plan includes 10 new toilets in the Bronx, 23 in Brooklyn, 28 in Manhattan, 14 in Queens, and 7 on Staten Island.

What are some of the features of the new public toilets?

The new public toilets will be designed to be more accessible, with additional stalls and other improvements to accommodate various needs.

Also Read: Google Maps Rolls Out Glanceable Directions for Easier Navigation

Also Read: Top Google Maps Alternatives for Privacy-Conscious Navigators

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