No loitering on the loo. New NYC bathrooms come with a time limit

New York City is getting 17 new public bathrooms, but there's one important rule visitors will need to remember: Don't take too long.

The bathrooms, being installed across all five boroughs as part of a $4 million pilot program, will give users 10 minutes before the door automatically opens. Before that happens, users will receive audio and visual warnings, including flashing lights, to let them know their time is almost up.

The final warning tells users that their time is up and the door is opening. There is then a short delay before the door actually opens, giving people a chance to finish up and leave.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the time limit during a Wednesday news conference, telling New Yorkers: "This is not a place to scroll on your phone. I know that many people do that. This isn't one of them."

The 10-minute limit is intended in part to prevent people from occupying the bathrooms for extended periods, according to Throne Labs, the company operating the units.

Jessica Heinzelman, co-founder and chief operating officer of Throne Labs, told Fox News that the company settled on the limit after reviewing how long people typically use its bathrooms. She said…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/