Here’s an issue I’ve been pondering. A few days ago, I went into the restroom at work to relieve myself of my lunchtime Diet Coke. This bathroom has three stalls, 2 standard sized and one larger one to accomodate people with disabilities. The two standard sized stalls were not useable due to lack of toilet paper and the fact that someone had peed on one of the seats. (Still don’t understand how that happens, given female anatomy, but anyway…)
So I went into the larger stall, and quickly took care of my business. As I was flushing and zipping up, I heard the bathroom door open. When I exited the stall, no more than 5 seconds later, I encountered a very angry looking lady in a wheelchair. I’ve seen this lady around before, but she works in a different division on the other side of the building, so we’ve never really met. She was clearly quite ticked off that she had to wait 5 seconds for the stall, giving me a very dirty look and making a “hurumph” noise as she went by me.
Honestly, I don’t think I did anything wrong by using the stall. But are there rules on this, like with parking spaces? What if the other stalls had been useable but had other people in them when I entered the bathroom? Should I have stood there and waited for a standard sized stall to open up, even though the larger stall was available and there were no people with disabilities in sight?
My feeling is that this lady has a chip on her shoulder that has nothing to do with me, but I would appreciate all of your opinions.
I think that it is fine to use the handicapped stall if there are no disabled people around.
If there is a line to use the bathroom then I think the disabled person should get the handicapped stall the first time it is empty and not have to wait in line.
I agree. I think it’s stupid to line up for the regular stalls but leave the handicapped stall alone on the off chance that a handicapped person comes in. However, conclude your business as soon as possible.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using the handicapped stall, though I’d never park in a handicapped spot. If you’re using the stall when a handicapped person comes in, she only has to wait a few minutes, as anyone else might when using a public bathroom. If an able-bodied person parks in a handicapped spot, that spot is probably taken for an hour or so. Then someone who really needs the spot will probably have to either park in a regular spot, further away from the building, or come back later.
As for peeing on the toilet seat, I’m sure that’s from women who hover. It’s incredibly inconsiderate though. I wish they’d just line the seat with paper or something.:rolleyes: Or maybe sit their precious butts down like the rest of us.
I don’t think you did anything wrong. The person is question probably didn’t realize the other stalls were not really usable, hence the “Harumph.” I agree with ** In Conceivable**'s rule of thumb. They’re not handicapped-only stalls, they’re handicapped-accessible stalls.
It’s possible that this lady felt the stall should be available at all times, and that’s why she grumped at you.
But we need to remember that the extra space is not the only reason for the special stall. Some disabilities include incontinence problems that make waiting for the accessible stall a real problem.
On the other hand, other people feel that if the stall is available and all others are full, you should go ahead and use it.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Can’t please everyone – but I do try to avoid the big stall, because I don’t need it.
If she wasn’t IN the bathroom when you went into the stall, no harm, no foul. The stalls, IMO, are there for everybody to use, including those using wheelchairs, not wheelchair-only, or it’s a waste of a toilet.
I’m not in a wheelchair but have problems with incontinence sometimes as my bladder is hyperactive… I could be the chick in the lame detrol commercial but I can’t take their pills as I have kidney disease. This is exacerbated by the fact that I’m pregnant again.
I have a huge peeve with places that decide the handicapped stall is the appropriate place for the koala changing station! That and if you have kids and have to either help them in the stall or have them accompany you in the stall (My 2 year old is NOT standing out in the main washroom to wait for me thanks) The handicapped stall is often your only option. They really need to design public restrooms a bit better.
In the OP though… you didn’t go in there simply to deprive this woman of the stall. She didn’t need to harumph like that! I agree that handicap accessible is not handicapped only.
I agree with tanookie. I see them as handicap accessible and not exclusive. Myself the mother of small children, I also have the need for a larger-spaced public restroom stall! I would never dream of depriving a person with handicaps of her facility, but I don’t see anything wrong with using it, if it is empty. Like someone said, I’m not going to be in there an hour. I think the hrumpping person was being too territorial.
Another chiming in with the opinion you did nothing wrong. Especially considering I’ve done the same thing myself many times.
It seems to me that occasionally to make more stall, they make them smaller. This is of absolutely no help to me. Being a large lass, it can take a bit of… erm… body manipulation… to squeeze around the door and toilet. In situations such as this, I will use the (supposedly) wheelchair accessible stall.
Priority to those in wheelchairs - yes. Solely for that use - no. Common sense and courtesy - all the way.
Toilet stalls are definitely getting smaller, and I’ve never understood why non-handicapped toilet stall doors all open in, so you have to practically stand on the toilet to open the door, particularly if you’re not built like Callista Flockhart.
Oh, and I’ve been in quite a few public toilets which only have one stall which is, of course, handicapped accessible. Obviously, in that case you’ve got no choice in the matter.
Often when accompanied by Lil Intaglio, we’ll use the Handicapped stall since it is bigger and she is only 5 - that way I keep an eye on her.
As long as there is no-one who needs that stall, I think it is acceptable to use the handicapped stall. As long as you’re not being rude keeping someone from using it that needs it.
She was grumpy - ignore it. I mean really, what’d she expect? It’s a handicapped stall - not a handicapped-only stall. If I go into a public restroom and have to wait on the handicapped stall, it’s not a big deal. Thank God that there IS a handicapped stall!
Something similar happened to me a week or so ago and I was considering opening a thread on this very subject. My feeling is, hey, I prefer the larger stall for a couple of reasons, not least of which is it’s the only toilet that’s high enough so that my johnson doesn’t dangle in the toilet water when I’m sitting down. So if the stall is open, I’m going to use it.
In a similar discussion I was in many years ago, the consensus was that since “people in wheelchairs also have incontinence problems” then the stall should be left available to the handicapped only at all times. But this is not true, in my opinion, because not ALL wheelchair-dependent folks are incontinent. Plus, I am a type 1 diabetic and have resultant kidney disease and nerve damage - including the nerves that serve my bladder. Since my kidney disease is in the “go all the time” stage I go lots, and if my bladder starts getting stressed it may or may not “hold out”.
Also, like many other folks have already pointed out, if you are larger than an eight-year-old it’s almost impossible to get out of the “normal” stalls without having to wedge yourself between the stool and the toilet paper storage bin (they quit being hangers years ago-now those huge monstrosities hold a year’s supply of tissue at once!) just to get the door open.
So, my vote: If it’s open, and a wheelchair bound person is not in line - use it, that’s what it’s there for.
At work, we have two male restrooms - both have a handicapped stall.
Not one of the ~100 employees is disabled, and I have yet to see anyone of any disability in the building period (fairly restricted building, visitors have to sign in and be escorted, etc.)
So when I have to use a stall, I ALWAYS go to the handicapped one. Why? It’s bigger, the toilet’s higher and more comfortable, and it’s better lit. I like it!
Now, if it was slightly more likely that someone would need that stall at the same time I was using it, I would use one of the other ones. But that chance seems so remote so as to be near impossible.
And I thought handicapped rules were enacted to allow ACCESS to disable folks, not necessarily give them PRIORITY. If all the stalls are full, I don’t see why the handicapped person can’t wait in line like everyone else. The suggestion above about incontinence is interesting, but there are plenty of non-handicapped people who have this too. I’d be interested in the percentage of handicapped people who suffer from this versus the percentage of non-handicapped people who do. What I’m saying is it shouldn’t necessarily be a discriminator.
If I were in a line in a bathroom and somebody behind me said, “Look, I’ve got a medical problem, I’ve got to get into a stall NOW!” I would happily let them go ahead. I think most of us would. Had I such a problem, I would not hesitate in an emergency in a public bathroom to say that, either.
I think the reason the changing tables are often put in the handicap stalls is because there just isn’t any other place to put them. Public bathroom designs generally suck. For one thing, they never put enough stalls in the ladies’ room…