The $4 million pilot program aims to make it easier for people to find public restrooms in New York City.
Robotoilets have landed in New York City: on Wednesday, two futuristic public bathrooms began operation on NYC’s streets as part of a $4 million pilot program from the mayor’s office. The initiative aims to make it easier for people to find a place to relieve themselves while on the go — as long as they can do so within the toilets’ strict ten-minute time limit, after which the doors to NYC’s streets will open automatically.
The high-tech public restrooms can only be opened by using special tap cards, which community partners will distribute, or texting a number using a smartphone. The restrooms are equipped with free pad dispensers, and are cheaper to install than conventional public restrooms because they do not utilize the city’s sewer and water systems, Gothamist reports.
Fifteen more robotoilets are expected to roll out in the coming months. NYC has long struggled to provide enough public toilets for its residents — officials estimate there are around 1,000 public bathrooms across the five boroughs, Liam Quigley writes for Gothamist.
Read the full story: NYC deploys robotoilets. The public bathrooms have a strict 10-minute time limit.
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