From this day forth, I declare that all bathroom doors must be created with clear external indication of their (un)locked status. Gone is the day where you'll have to jiggle the handle to see if the door is locked, knowing full well that you hate it when people do that while you're trying to finish your business. Forgotten is the day that you stood outside a closed bathroom door for five minutes waiting for someone to emerge just to have someone else more assertive than you try the door and go right into the empty lavatory. You, Mr. Bathroom Door Maker, can make this dream of knowing the (un)locked status of every bathroom door the moment it's encountered come true.
Airplane manufacturers figured this out long ago. Why hasn't everyone else? If there's one reason that I enjoy going on airplanes, it's because I always know if a bathroom is in use or not. Some airplanes even have overhead indicators that inform the entire cabin if someone is using the facilities. It's a truly excellent system.
Please bathroom door manufacturers of the world, answer my cry and let me know if someone is using the loo!
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The problem is exacerbated if
The problem is exacerbated if the lock is broken. Then the game becomes much more interesting ;)
Indeed. Then you get into th
Indeed. Then you get into the funky situation where you try to prop your foot against the door while taking care of business. In these circumstances, it's always best to have a reliable, external door watcher.
dude,
you enjoy going on airplanes simply b/c their toilets are smart? i think the scandinavian air is getting to you. and, btw, i'm under the impression that airplane potties and port-o-johns have the little "occupied" sign b/c their doors go all the way to the floor. you can so do the "feet check" in store restrooms; that way you don't even have to walk all the way down to the end of the bathroom to look at the doors, thusly losing your place in line (although that may not be an issue for you _guys_). i think you should totally e-mail "hiney hiders" (a stall-making company, for those who don't know) and let them know how you feel.
false security
See, the problem with these indicator mechanisms, is that you think that that will guarantee your efficient and private use of the facilities, but when said mechanisms are broken, they can be far more damaging than a regular old broken lock.
Case in point: I took the train down to NYC last year, and the bathrooms on the train have these indicator mechanisms on the door - when you lock them, they say they are occupied. Well, apparently the locks or the mechanisms weren't working, because a passenger opened the door on some poor soul using the bathroom, even though they had the door "locked" and supposedly "occupied." This incident was mild though, as the discovered person was just washing their hands; however, three or four more times, the door spontaneously slid open to reveal someone sitting on the toilet. I'm sure they thought they were safe, yet their naked bums were exposed to an entire train car of people.
A better door lock will still not stop the ...
A better door lock will still not stop the people who, upon finding the locked door, insist on knocking on it, and demand that while in the middle of grunting, you must also specify your name.
"Who's in there? Tim, is that you?"
Like that makes any difference to the fact that the door is locked ...
It's a matter of courtesy and impression
For the same reason public toilet seats have the front bit cut out of them and your toilet at home doesn't. For the same reason you don't see urinals in your average home's bathroom.
Most homeowners want a visit to their bathroom to be refreshing, which is why bathroom remodeling is big business. The more your bathroom resembles a public, communal restroom, the less inviting it will be to those you have over for tea. And isn't it always about impressing the neighbours?