# Are Handicapped Toliet Stalls JUST for the handicapped
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 20, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568 "2006-05-20T21:02:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RCGDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RCGDC)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/1 "2006-05-20T21:02:03Z")
I had a werid experience. I had to use the restroom. I went in and there were 3 stalls. Two regular and one handicapped. Both the regular stalls were in use, so I used the handicapped one.
When I came out there was a handicapped person waiting and he made some “off the cuff” comment to me, that I had no business using that and it was for handicapped people, like parking.
Truthfully I never thought about it before?
Is a handicapped stall like a handicapped parking place? For disable people only.
I guess I could’ve waited to use a regular stall, it just never occured to me to do so
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/2 "2006-05-20T21:15:48Z")
That guy is a jerk.
Go take your dumps in peace.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/3 "2006-05-20T21:17:14Z")
Some people are going to argue with me, but I say - no way. Bathroom is a bit more urgent than parking. If there’s not actively a handicapped person in the stall at that moment, go ahead and use it.
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/4 "2006-05-20T21:21:19Z")
Handicapped bathroom stalls are handicapped-accessible, not reserved. Parking spaces are reserved.
You shoulda told that guy to fuck off.
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### Author:  [@RCGDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RCGDC)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/5 "2006-05-20T21:24:18Z")
> [@trublmakr](#):
>
> Handicapped bathroom stalls are handicapped-accessible, not reserved. Parking spaces are reserved.
>
> You shoulda told that guy to fuck off.
Probably should’ve but you know you can’t be mean to a guy in a wheelchair… 🙂
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/6 "2006-05-20T21:26:11Z")
Handicapped stalls are not just for the hadicapped.
They’re not like parking spaces (Many people with placards are not wheelchair-bound)
What if there’s only one stall, and it’s of that style?
There is etiquette, but you specifically stated the others were in use.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/7 "2006-05-20T21:29:53Z")
> [@RCGDC](#):
>
> Probably should’ve but you know you can’t be mean to a guy in a wheelchair… 🙂
Nuts. You shoulda gone all Richard Widmark on his ass.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/8 "2006-05-20T21:32:59Z")
I agree that they are simply stalls that can handle people in wheelchairs if they need to. They can be used by anyone.
The building I work in is very large and the bathrooms are big as well. I have never seen a handicapped person in the building and the bathrooms can get very busy at times. It would be a little silly to avoid a stall for some hypothetical scenario.
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/9 "2006-05-20T21:44:40Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#):
>
> The building I work in is very large and the bathrooms are big as well. I have never seen a handicapped person in the building and the bathrooms can get very busy at times. It would be a little silly to avoid a stall for some hypothetical scenario.
And if a guy in a wheelchair comes in, and someone’s in that stall, it’s not going to kill him to wait a minute or two, just like the rest of the world has to.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/10 "2006-05-20T21:50:25Z")
> [@Antigen](#):
>
> And if a guy in a wheelchair comes in, and someone’s in that stall, it’s not going to kill him to wait a minute or two, just like the rest of the world has to.
Except that he’s at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to doing the “I’ve gotta go” dance. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/11 "2006-05-20T22:47:50Z")
They aren’t generally just for the disabled. We did have someone at an office where I worked whose disability required the availability of a bathroom at all times. Therefore, one accessible bathroom was also reserved for her. I didn’t feel she was being unreasonable. I don’t know exactly what her disability was, but from what little I’d heard it was truly amazing that she was able to hold down a demanding full-time job.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/12 "2006-05-20T23:04:41Z")
> [@RCGDC](#):
>
> I had a werid experience. I had to use the restroom. I went in and there were 3 stalls. Two regular and one handicapped. Both the regular stalls were in use, so I used the handicapped one.
>
> When I came out there was a handicapped person waiting and he made some “off the cuff” comment to me, that I had no business using that and it was for handicapped people, like parking.
>
> Truthfully I never thought about it before?
>
> Is a handicapped stall like a handicapped parking place? For disable people only.
>
> I guess I could’ve waited to use a regular stall, it just never occured to me to do so
They have to be provided so the handicapped have somewhere to go. It doesn’t mean you can’t use it if you’re able-bodied.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/13 "2006-05-20T23:09:20Z")
I’d say as long as you didn’t know a handicapped person would come in while you were using it, you were in the clear.
I’ve seen mothers with young children use them simply because there’s more room to maneveur. For women, the line to use the bathroom can get long, and it seems rather silly to let one perfectly good stall go to waste when there’s a line.
If he were in line with you then I would let him jump ahead to use the handicapped stall, but if not, you’re fine.
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### Author:  [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/14 "2006-05-20T23:12:08Z")
I read about this once in an advice column (no cite, sorry). The columnist said that if the other stalls are in use and there isn’t a handicapped person waiting to use the bathroom, you’re perfectly justified in using the handicapped stall.
Personally, though, I’d use it for quick trips only. I wouldn’t bring a newspaper in there (as at least one woman in my office has done).
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/15 "2006-05-20T23:17:15Z")
IIRC, Ann Landers answered the same way – the only difference is that if there’s a line, a person in a wheelchair should be able to cut ahead to get into the stall.
There are plenty of places that have only one stall anyway (e.g., our local Borders). There is a clearn indication that this is a handicapped rest room on the door. Does that mean no one else can use is? Of course not.
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### Author:  [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/16 "2006-05-20T23:27:16Z")
In Japan at least. I was half way thru-so to speak, when I accidentally pressed a button on the wall. Could not read that much Japanese to see that it was the ‘Help’ button. Japanese janitor came and tried to ‘rescue’ me - I had a very awkward 5 minute conversation with me still sitting on the toilet speaking bad japanese trying to say I did not need help just closing of the door.
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### Author:  [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/17 "2006-05-20T23:38:57Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> I’d say as long as you didn’t know a handicapped person would come in while you were using it, you were in the clear.
>
> I’ve seen mothers with young children use them simply because there’s more room to maneveur. For women, the line to use the bathroom can get long, and it seems rather silly to let one perfectly good stall go to waste when there’s a line.
>
> If he were in line with you then I would let him jump ahead to use the handicapped stall, but if not, you’re fine.
That’s what I say, and in fact in many places with a smaller bathroom the handicapped stall is where the change table is. I’d also much rather use the handicapped stall so I can keep the stroller (and my son) with me, rather than have him just outside and the door wide open.
Definitely not reserved, but if the washroom is busy and someone who is handicapped needs it then they should be allowed to ‘jump’ line.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/18 "2006-05-20T23:45:46Z")
Also, many people who have handicapped parking stickers do not use wheelchairs. How are you to know which ones are “parking handicapped” and need to also use the handicapped stall if they’re not in a wheelchair?
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/19 "2006-05-20T23:52:20Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#):
>
> In Japan at least. I was half way thru-so to speak, when I accidentally pressed a button on the wall. Could not read that much Japanese to see that it was the ‘Help’ button. Japanese janitor came and tried to ‘rescue’ me - I had a very awkward 5 minute conversation with me still sitting on the toilet speaking bad japanese trying to say I did not need help just closing of the door.
That’s hilarous!
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-handicapped-toliet-stalls-just-for-the-handicapped/357568/20 "2006-05-20T23:53:27Z")
And so’s my typing!
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