Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Mamdani Launches $4 Million NYC Toilet Pilot With 17 Units and 10-Minute Auto-Open Doors

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Mamdani Launches $4 Million NYC Toilet Pilot With 17 Units and 10-Minute Auto-Open Doors

Q: What happens when a user with a medical condition needs more than 10 minutes before the NYC modular restroom door automatically swings open?

As the system is currently described, the door still opens after the 10-minute limit and brief warning period, even if the user needs more time for a medical reason. City and company officials have said users get audio and visual warnings at five and eight minutes, then a final alert at 10 minutes. After roughly another 30 seconds, the door opens automatically if the stall is still occupied. Throne Labs says the feature is intended to reduce loitering and also act as a safety measure if someone is in distress. There does not yet appear to be a public, built-in exemption or extension mechanism for people with medical conditions who may need longer. One report from the launch said there is “currently no way to extend a session,” though Throne’s co-founder said the company is working on an option for people with mobility challenges or other ongoing needs. That leaves an unresolved accessibility question. The units are described as ADA-accessible in layout and entry, but the timed auto-open policy may still create problems for some people with chronic illness, digestive disorders, disabilities, or other medical needs that can require more than 10 minutes in privacy. So for now, based on the available information, a user who needs more than 10 minutes is not guaranteed extra time; the stall warns them and then opens unless the policy is changed or an accommodation feature is added.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

$4 million will fund a one-year pilot adding 17 modular public restrooms across all five boroughs, with two units already operating and the rest headed to high-traffic sites.
10 minutes is the usage limit: users get reminders at five and eight minutes, then flashing lights and bilingual audio before doors open at 10 minutes 30 seconds to deter loitering.
3.5 minutes is the typical use time, Throne Labs said; 81% of users finish within five minutes, and more than 95% did so within 10 minutes at one Los Angeles site.
7 a.m. to 10 p.m. will be the daily operating window, and the ADA-accessible units can be unlocked by text, QR code, app or tap cards from community partners.
1 public toilet per 8,500 residents is New York City's current ratio, and Mamdani said the modular units cost about the same as one traditional city restroom.