TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

voiceofreason · Guru

Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

That's a good point. Never thought of it like that. I mean, if there is no handicapped person in sight, then can you use it? And, for the OP, she didn't SEE the handicapped person in line so I don't think that makes her some Evil Meanie.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

And, if it is the only stall that has a changing table, then presumably the restroom is for that use as well.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

A lot of places are putting the baby changing station in the handicapped stall nowadays. I guess I don't see what the problem is. Maybe the mother didn't see the person in line? Who knows.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

A thousand times this. It's accessible not exclusive. It doesn't mean only handicapped people can use it, it means this is the one they CAN use. Big difference.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Mellow Momma wrote:
voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

A thousand times this. It's accessible not exclusive. It doesn't mean only handicapped people can use it, it means this is the one they CAN use. Big difference.

Besides, there are other people that might use the handicapped stall that AREN'T in a wheelchair. People with arthritis or bad backs. I know many people who aren't "disabled" who use the handicapped stall because it's just easier on them. After each knee surgery I used them exclusively. I couldn't bend my leg and all the other toilets were too low. Just because someone is using the handicapped stall doesn't make them evil.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Puuuurrreee EEEEvvvillllL!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Puuuurrreee EEEEvvvillllL!

biggrin

tlc · Regular

If a disabled person is waiting, then they should get to go ahead and use the stall before others. The thing is, this is the ONLY stall they can use. And what a lot of people don't realize is that people in wheelchairs, on crutches have neurological issues that cause issues with bladder control. We can't always stand there and wait for several people to go ahead of us.

I wish they would just make all stalls wider with hand rails so they are all useable by people with various needs.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I agree tlc. I would always let a handicapped person go in front of me. But you're right, if all bathrooms were like that it would be nicer.

voiceofreason · Guru

My disability isn't visible but I have both bladder and kidney issues. Severe issues. Like they're going to kill me dead issues. Do I have a right to use the first placestall available? Of course I do. Disabilities aren't always visible.

No. Bathrooms aren't reserved like parking spaces.

huskerbb · Guru

Abby is full of sh!t.

huskerbb · Guru

Also, while it is the LW's CHOICE to let the mother and children go first, it is NOT up to the LW to allow someone who is third in line to skip the person who is second in line.

In this case, that stall is really the ONLY one the mother and child can use, too, since it is the only one with the changing station.

voiceofreason · Guru

what if it was just one bathroom with a line of 3 women? Does someone in a wheelchair get to go to the front because it's handicapped accessible? No. They have to wait their turn. This actually happened to me on a recent ride. The restaurant we stopped at had one bathroom. All these women standing in line, getting out of their chaps and someone in a wheelchair wanted to cut in. We gently told hr no. We started s talking to her and I asked her how often that worked and she laughed and said almost always but no one would make eye contact with her.

Blankie · Guru

voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

Exactly. DH works in the wheelchair accessibility industry and knows all the building codes, and how the architects plan for number of regular stalls vs. handicapped stalls, etc. He says it has always been that the handicapped stall is NOT for the exclusive use of handicapped people.

But like tlc says, common sense tells you that it should be made immediately available to a handicapped person. Because they can use only that stall, so their wait would be way longer than the rest of us.

Another solution is just to have more damn stalls. Some places just don't have enough. Or they are way too narrow, like in my work building. Everyone uses the handicapped stalls there because the other ones are so small you can barely turn around in them.

Blankie · Guru

"you can barely turn around in them"

LOL! I just gave myself my laugh for the day.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Blankie wrote:
voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

Exactly. DH works in the wheelchair accessibility industry and knows all the building codes, and how the architects plan for number of regular stalls vs. handicapped stalls, etc. He says it has always been that the handicapped stall is NOT for the exclusive use of handicapped people.
But like tlc says, common sense tells you that it should be made immediately available to a handicapped person. Because they can use only that stall, so their wait would be way longer than the rest of us.
Another solution is just to have more damn stalls. Some places just don't have enough. Or they are way too narrow, like in my work building. Everyone uses the handicapped stalls there because the other ones are so small you can barely turn around in them.

That clears it up Blankie. I really was never sure if it was for exclusive use and reserved or if it was OK for anyone to use it. Obviously if there is a crowd of people and I saw someone visibly handicapped then I would not use it if I could avoid it.

However, it isn't the job of the public to someone KNOW that someone can't hold their bladder or whatever. So, I assume if you are out in public you are going to have found ways to address your own issue. Getting in line earlier before you really HAVE to go, wearing a pad or whatever. You have to work around your own issues and not expect the public to have some kind of crystal ball into your personal health problems.

FNW · Guru

voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

I agree.

And really, I would allow a mother with small child(ren) first because they are less likely to be able to hold it in long enough to avoid an accident.

ed11563 · Guru

tlc wrote:
If a disabled person is waiting, then they should get to go ahead and use the stall before others. The thing is, this is the ONLY stall they can use. And what a lot of people don't realize is that people in wheelchairs, on crutches have neurological issues that cause issues with bladder control. We can't always stand there and wait for several people to go ahead of us.

I wish they would just make all stalls wider with hand rails so they are all useable by people with various needs.

Except for new construction, there is always a space issue.

The choice would be to have more, narrower stalls, or fewer, wider stalls.

The men's room off the main lobby of one big hospital I visit had 3 stalls ...

One is big and handicapped accessible.

The second has a urinal and is barely shoulder width. The third has a toilet, and is also barely shoulder width, but the TP dispenser takes several inches away at hip level.

They could make #2 and #3 into one, wider stall. Would that be a good idea?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Good point Ed. We can have half as many bigger stalls or more stalls with one or two wide ones. Take your pic. Space is always going to be an issue.

However, why have there been no real innovations in toilets over the year? We have upgraded virtually everything for the yuppie boomers. Why not those? Why not make higher, wider seats? Or other ways to make them more user friendly? I mean let's face it the US population is getting a lot bigger.

Divine Geek · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Good point Ed. We can have half as many bigger stalls or more stalls with one or two wide ones. Take your pic. Space is always going to be an issue.

However, why have there been no real innovations in toilets over the year? We have upgraded virtually everything for the yuppie boomers. Why not those? Why not make higher, wider seats? Or other ways to make them more user friendly? I mean let's face it the US population is getting a lot bigger.

There are high toilets and wider seats available. But they cost more then the "regular" ones. So you're not going to see them in most public restrooms due to cost constraints

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

If toilets get any higher, my feet won't touch the ground!

Divine Geek · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
If toilets get any higher, my feet won't touch the ground!

Mine don't on some of them why I don't like the handicapped stall if I have a choice

-- Edited by Divine Geek on Saturday 3rd of January 2015 10:12:22 AM

tlc · Regular

ed11563 wrote:
tlc wrote:
If a disabled person is waiting, then they should get to go ahead and use the stall before others. The thing is, this is the ONLY stall they can use. And what a lot of people don't realize is that people in wheelchairs, on crutches have neurological issues that cause issues with bladder control. We can't always stand there and wait for several people to go ahead of us.

I wish they would just make all stalls wider with hand rails so they are all useable by people with various needs.
Except for new construction, there is always a space issue.
The choice would be to have more, narrower stalls, or fewer, wider stalls.

The men's room off the main lobby of one big hospital I visit had 3 stalls ...
One is big and handicapped accessible.
The second has a urinal and is barely shoulder width. The third has a toilet, and is also barely shoulder width, but the TP dispenser takes several inches away at hip level.
They could make #2 and #3 into one, wider stall. Would that be a good idea?

Why not? Wouldn't it be better to have one less stall, but the ones there are more comfortable and useable? If the other two are not hardly useable, the only one that will get used is the handicapped stall anyway.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

No, not necessarily. The waits would be twice as long. Better a small one to hover over then nothing at all.

huskerbb · Guru

tlc wrote:
ed11563 wrote:
tlc wrote:
If a disabled person is waiting, then they should get to go ahead and use the stall before others. The thing is, this is the ONLY stall they can use. And what a lot of people don't realize is that people in wheelchairs, on crutches have neurological issues that cause issues with bladder control. We can't always stand there and wait for several people to go ahead of us.

I wish they would just make all stalls wider with hand rails so they are all useable by people with various needs.
Except for new construction, there is always a space issue.
The choice would be to have more, narrower stalls, or fewer, wider stalls.

The men's room off the main lobby of one big hospital I visit had 3 stalls ...
One is big and handicapped accessible.
The second has a urinal and is barely shoulder width. The third has a toilet, and is also barely shoulder width, but the TP dispenser takes several inches away at hip level.
They could make #2 and #3 into one, wider stall. Would that be a good idea?

Why not? Wouldn't it be better to have one less stall, but the ones there are more comfortable and useable? If the other two are not hardly useable, the only one that will get used is the handicapped stall anyway.

No. If there is a line, the best way to handle it is to have more facilities to make the lines shorter.

NO ONE cares about "comfort" if they are standing in a long line. A porta-pottie will do at that point.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Blankie wrote:
voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

Exactly. DH works in the wheelchair accessibility industry and knows all the building codes, and how the architects plan for number of regular stalls vs. handicapped stalls, etc. He says it has always been that the handicapped stall is NOT for the exclusive use of handicapped people.
But like tlc says, common sense tells you that it should be made immediately available to a handicapped person. Because they can use only that stall, so their wait would be way longer than the rest of us.
Another solution is just to have more damn stalls. Some places just don't have enough. Or they are way too narrow, like in my work building. Everyone uses the handicapped stalls there because the other ones are so small you can barely turn around in them.

I agree with everything Blankie said.

huskerbb · Guru

Tignanello wrote:
Blankie wrote:
voiceofreason wrote:
Disagree. Anyone can use the handicapped stall. Anyone. It's handicapped accessible, not handicapped reserved .

Exactly. DH works in the wheelchair accessibility industry and knows all the building codes, and how the architects plan for number of regular stalls vs. handicapped stalls, etc. He says it has always been that the handicapped stall is NOT for the exclusive use of handicapped people.
But like tlc says, common sense tells you that it should be made immediately available to a handicapped person. Because they can use only that stall, so their wait would be way longer than the rest of us.
Another solution is just to have more damn stalls. Some places just don't have enough. Or they are way too narrow, like in my work building. Everyone uses the handicapped stalls there because the other ones are so small you can barely turn around in them.
I agree with everything Blankie said.

I do too, and in an office building, there are likely not lines very often.

However, having more or wider stalls is not always so easy. Even in new construction, there is not unlimited space, and in old construction, it is very expensive to move plumbing to accommodate more or wider stalls.

Sometimes, you just have to live with it and make do. Being 3rd in line is hardly a "bad" position. Likely the LW took the next available non-handicap stall, and the handicapped person got the handicap stall after the women with the children was done. It's not like she was 20th in line and everyone was taking the handicap stall.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

When you have options, it is easy to say "everyone can use it". But when you don't have options, it is the ONLY one you can use.

If no one is in there and the only one occupied is the handicapped stall then I have to wait. There may be three other stalls open but I cant use them. They might as well not even be there.

If the bathroom is full, I don't have a problem with others using the handicapped stall.

As for taller toilets and wider stalls and hand rails, a lot of bathrooms have huge sink areas. Why? A couple sinks should not take up half the bathroom. There is room to make the stalls bigger.

And I think putting the changing thing in the handicapped stall is just stupid. A parent will take their kid in there and talk to them and play with them and take forever getting out. And guess what? I am standing out there with three empty stalls, waiting on you to change little Suzy's diaper or for her to "go potty" and I cant go in one of the others.

If you need the hand rails, taller toilet and wider space because of a disability, then use the stall.

If it is because it is more comfortable and you like the roominess, then do your business and get out.

A lot of the time if you just do your business and get out it's no big deal.

But by the time I get in there, while you where changing diapers and talking on your phone or pondering the universe, I am about to pee and I might not make it till I get my pants down.

huskerbb · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
When you have options, it is easy to say "everyone can use it". But when you don't have options, it is the ONLY one you can use.

If no one is in there and the only one occupied is the handicapped stall then I have to wait. There may be three other stalls open but I cant use them. They might as well not even be there.

If the bathroom is full, I don't have a problem with others using the handicapped stall.

As for taller toilets and wider stalls and hand rails, a lot of bathrooms have huge sink areas. Why? A couple sinks should not take up half the bathroom. There is room to make the stalls bigger.

And I think putting the changing thing in the handicapped stall is just stupid. A parent will take their kid in there and talk to them and play with them and take forever getting out. And guess what? I am standing out there with three empty stalls, waiting on you to change little Suzy's diaper or for her to "go potty" and I cant go in one of the others.

If you need the hand rails, taller toilet and wider space because of a disability, then use the stall.

If it is because it is more comfortable and you like the roominess, then do your business and get out.

A lot of the time if you just do your business and get out it's no big deal.

But by the time I get in there, while you where changing diapers and talking on your phone or pondering the universe, I am about to pee and I might not make it till I get my pants down.

Well, the bathroom was full, in this case.

However, even if it is empty, a person can't know that a handicap person is about to come in. Chances are, that WON'T happen.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

But if it does, the handicap person is waiting.

If you are not handicapped and you have other options, use the other options.

It isn't rocket science.

huskerbb · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
But if it does, the handicap person is waiting.

If you are not handicapped and you have other options, use the other options.

It isn't rocket science.

No, that's ridiculous. I'm not basing what I do based on the minimal chance that X or Y might occur. Tough titties if it does.

ed11563 · Guru

I would have no problem if a handicapped person, upon entering the bathroom and finding the handicapped stall in use, where to say,

"Handicapped person here, if the person using the handicapped stall could hurry, it would be appreciated."

huskerbb · Guru

ed11563 wrote:
I would have no problem if a handicapped person, upon entering the bathroom and finding the handicapped stall in use, where to say,
"Handicapped person here, if the person using the handicapped stall could hurry, it would be appreciated."

Me, either--and I'd do what I could.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

huskerbb wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
But if it does, the handicap person is waiting.

If you are not handicapped and you have other options, use the other options.

It isn't rocket science.

No, that's ridiculous. I'm not basing what I do based on the minimal chance that X or Y might occur. Tough titties if it does.

I really hope and pray you NEVER have to eat those words.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

How can you even think of using the handicap stall if you have the option of three other places to go? I don't understand that thinking.

I was raised to be considerate of others.

I was raised to respect people who may need those stalls and not use them if I did not need to.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

ed11563 wrote:
tlc wrote:
If a disabled person is waiting, then they should get to go ahead and use the stall before others. The thing is, this is the ONLY stall they can use. And what a lot of people don't realize is that people in wheelchairs, on crutches have neurological issues that cause issues with bladder control. We can't always stand there and wait for several people to go ahead of us.

I wish they would just make all stalls wider with hand rails so they are all useable by people with various needs.
Except for new construction, there is always a space issue.
The choice would be to have more, narrower stalls, or fewer, wider stalls.

The men's room off the main lobby of one big hospital I visit had 3 stalls ...
One is big and handicapped accessible.
The second has a urinal and is barely shoulder width. The third has a toilet, and is also barely shoulder width, but the TP dispenser takes several inches away at hip level.
They could make #2 and #3 into one, wider stall. Would that be a good idea?

There should be stalls designated for #1 and #2 and one stall for those ladies who hover and pee on the seat.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I don't understand hovering. It's impossible to contract a disease from a toilet unless you have an open sore on your butt. If you don't, wipe the seat and sit down!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Mellow Momma wrote:
I don't understand hovering. It's impossible to contract a disease from a toilet unless you have an open sore on your butt. If you don't, wipe the seat and sit down!

Thank you!

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Well. If the seat is cold, I can kind of understand it.

There was this one bathroom at a Ractrac gas station here, the heater blew directly onto the toilet seat.

It could be 0 outside and that toilet seat was always toasty warm.

It was wonderful.

chef · Guru

With things like this, it's a case of - if it doesn't apply to you, it's not something you've thought of. Generally speaking, anyway. If you don't have a disability necessitating the use of the handicapped stall or have a family member/friend in that position, it's likely to never hit your radar how it feels to a disabled person to walk/wheel into the bathroom, see all the stalls empty except for the disabled one, then see an able-bodied young person exit the stall after x minutes.

As to the changing stations in the disabled stall - I hate that. It's inconvenient. It's also rude to disabled folk. Diapers can take awhile to change - blowouts, anyone? - and it would be helpful to have the stall elsewhere in the bathroom - for both the parents and disabled folk. I also hate when they stick the diaper changing station right behind the door.

chef · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
I don't understand hovering. It's impossible to contract a disease from a toilet unless you have an open sore on your butt. If you don't, wipe the seat and sit down!

I don't understand hovering either.

If you (general) must hover, wipe the seat off afterwards. It is no one's duty but your own to clean your business off the seat.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I have seen toilets that spray when they flush too.

Those auto flushing toilets can spray before you even stand up good.

chef · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
I have seen toilets that spray when they flush too.

Those auto flushing toilets can spray before you even stand up good.

Those toilets are annoying.

One scared the crap out of DS a few weeks ago.

Bonny22Pye · Guru

I was allowed to jump the line yesterday. The ladies had a huge line. I asked to go ahead and look for a changing table. There wasn't one. Then a lady pulled me over to the handicapped stall. I changed his diaper super fast and got out of there.

I WISH they were in the main part of the bathroom or even just in the hall outside bathrooms so my husband can use them too.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I dont remember them being very many places when my kids were little. I changed them on my lap, a bench, their stroller or in the car. I am sure they are super convenient though. I just don't know why they have t be in the handicapped stall.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

lilyofcourse wrote:
I dont remember them being very many places when my kids were little. I changed them on my lap, a bench, their stroller or in the car. I am sure they are super convenient though. I just don't know why they have t be in the handicapped stall.

Because in a bathroom with limited space that is often the only place to put it. And it is law to have a baby changing table now.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

They fold up. When not in use, they take up less space than a hand dryer sticking out from the wall.

I don't know why it is a law to have one.

For convenience? It isn't convenient in the handicap stall.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
They fold up. When not in use, they take up less space than a hand dryer sticking out from the wall.

I don't know why it is a law to have one.

For convenience? It isn't convenient in the handicap stall.

You don't use them folded up...

flan