Text size:

Potty on! Public toilet gets first flush

BY ADAM PINCUS | STAFF WRITER

January 11, 2008

The sink in the first of 20 public toilets is photographed Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008 in Madison Square Park in New York. The self-washing, wheelchair-accessible toilets cost 25 cents for 15 minutes before the toilet doors automatically open and a 60-second cleaning cycle begins after each use. (Mary Altaffer, Associated Press / January 10, 2008)

A new place for New Yorkers to go when they gotta go was unveiled Thursday.

Showing off the city's new public toilet in Madison Square Park, Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said she was "flushed with excitement in this new era."

"New Yorkers had their fingers and legs crossed for this special day," she said.

The new stand-alone lavatory is the first of 20 that will eventually be installed around town by the same company, Cemusa, that is providing the city with new bus shelters and news stands.

It has been a long fought battle for city officials to finally be able to provide a public latrine. And as such, the restroom of choice for many New Yorkers on the go has been to simply the nearest Starbucks.

"New York is a very difficult place to get things done," said former Mayor Ed Koch, who said he tried to get automated public restrooms opened during his tenure but was stalled by lawsuits and red tape.

But with high-tech improvements like an automated disinfecting system that will clean the new toilet between users, and a security system that will automatically open the door after 15 minutes to prevent overnight guests, officials are hopeful that the new toilets are here to stay.

Before the sleek, new potty was installed, there were only two available on the streets of Manhattan -- in Herald Square and in Greeley Square -- operated by the 34th Street Partnership, a business improvement district.

Users of the Madison Square Park glass and steel toilet will need to pay 25 cents for access. At the beginning, it will only be in operation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., though the hours may be expanded later.

A Cemusa employee will be stationed outside the toilet for the first few weeks to assist those perplexed by the operation of the new potty.

Adam Pincus contributed to this story.