It's truly impressive how London has managed to make pissing in the bushes look dignified and respectable.
I have pelvic floor tightness that has been exacerbated by starting Elvanse/Vyvanse, which means I often go from feeling nothing to suddenly feeling that I will wet myself if I don't find a toilet within 10 minutes, which is how I found this, the most persuasive argument I've ever seen against neoliberal austerity.
The main criticism of these kinds of urinals (yes, it's not the only one in London) is that they only serve able bodied and mostly cis men. I get the argument, but as an able bodied cis man (albeit one with a history of social anxiety) myself, I'd rather piss in the bushes. Going in the bushes is at least discreet, whereas this urinal may as well have a billboard saying "This motherfucker's got his cock out."
Edit: I did some further research and found this article from the BBC that says Westminster (the London borough containing Soho, Oxford Street, and many other major shopping and nightlife areas) only has 8 public restrooms for it's 8.3 square miles. That's terrible, even if this isn't counted as one of those 8, which it shouldn't be.
puppygirlpets [pup/pup's, she/her] - 1w
i hate those things too, for so many reasons. with the discretion thing, they will never say it explicitly but those things are designed for people who are standard english drunk at the end of a night (absolutely fucking smashed)
32
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
Yes, central London has some "telescopic toilets" that come out of the ground in the evening in order to prevent drunks from urinating in public. They could also prevent everyone from urinating in public by providing 24/7 public restrooms that you don't have to be drunk to use.
31
puppygirlpets [pup/pup's, she/her] - 1w
18
Awoo [she/her] - 1w
who are standard english drunk at the end of a night (absolutely fucking smashed)
23
came_apart_at_Kmart [he/him, comrade/them] - 1w
standard english drunk
lmao
14
GrafZahl [he/him] - 1w
Calling a phone number to ask 'Oi whens the pisser open at Soho Square, gubnor?'
26
RedSturgeon [she/her] - 1w
After economic privatization, the toilets started demanding a toll fee to enter. Soon after... the bus station began to reek of shit. The people did not want to pay the toll fee. No! They proclaimed, they shall be using the bushes instead.
On a particularly windy day, after a Novy God feats, people have had their fill of zakuski and kalbaski and it was time to go home, as you may expect the shit's smelled so bad and there were so many, babushkas started fainting.
When the, used to be pioneers, saw it, what little left of them there was, they raised their grin to the sky and shouted: "Lenin, look how they have Enshittified our motherland!" Then came the tears.
24
hellinkilla [they/them, they/them] - 1w
Austerity so bad can't afford to pay cops to go into toilets to get bjs then make post nut arrest for public sex. If cops can't get bjs on company time nobody can get bjs.
23
comrade_pibb [comrade/them] - 1w
does this seem fair to you?
17
Andrzej3K [none/use name] - 1w
Piss coffin
23
FortifiedAttack [any] - 1w
Piss Iron Maiden
18
LisaTrevor [she/her, they/them] - 1w
Urine Maiden
21
miz [any, any] - 1w
9
InevitableSwing [none/use name] - 1w
Noise Band
7
grandepequeno [he/him] - 1w
This seems way to small, like you're 100% guaranteed to get peepee on your footsies
22
mrfugu [he/him, any] - 1w
As I understand it the problem is that without these urinals drunk mfers would be pissing on buildings and streets. If it was just bushes I don’t know if it would be such an issue.
I saw a similar thing in Amsterdam. They sort of pop out of the ground in spots near bars. They were always found next to the river which made me think they exist to prevent dumbasses from pissing in the river.
19
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
Yes, but London desperately needs public restrooms. It feels like they're only considering drunks because sober people are going to be too inhibited to urinate in public, especially in the daytime when there are so many people around.
That area of London has basically no public restrooms. I remember getting very annoyed because I bought a cup of coffee at a cafe there so I could use their restroom, and it was out of order. It's gotten to the point where I always need to keep a mental note of where I can find a public restroom when I need one, which are normally only at the very big rail hubs.
23
mrfugu [he/him, any] - 1w
No you’re right it’s very much an issue for keeping up appearances and in no way is it meant as a service.
12
WokePalpatine [he/him] - 1w
London needs the guy from Perfect Days running and cleaning a washroom system.
6
Bartsbigbugbag @lemmy.ml - 1w
There’s a third option, public, free, and well maintained bathrooms every couple blocks. As someone with bladder issues, the amount of public restrooms in China was a godsend. Cleanliness was all over the place, though, and everyone brings their own TP because they don’t provide it.
9
tactical_trans_karen [she/her, comrade/them] - 1w
The sidewalk isn't wet from rain...
19
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
You can always tell. If the wet patch starts in a corner and goes downwards, it's definitely piss.
9
blunder [he/him] - 1w
Is that a closing door? Or just a semi-privacy shade?
11
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
Semi-privacy. I saw someone using it, and he was visible from the back.
11
blunder [he/him] - 1w
Can you lean back against it while aiming into the little piss-arrow slit?
7
miz [any, any] - 1w
given the text about "when this urinal is closed, here's the nearest bathroom" am pretty sure it is a closing door
7
blunder [he/him] - 1w
Hm yeah but sounds like it's actually not operable by the pisser
8
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
Maybe they shut it at the end of the day, and that would explain all the Google maps' reviews mentioning the smell. It was very small, so there's no way someone could close the door behind themselves while they're using it.
most ppl I see pissing in bushes dont do it covertly at all. Im talking pull off on an exit, take two steps outta the car, drop pants to their ankles, and pull their dicks fully out sort of situation.
10
abc [he/him, comrade/them] - 1w
where are you driving i'd love to see this
8
Bartsbigbugbag @lemmy.ml - 1w
I did that when I was a kid. Couldn’t hold it so parents pulled over on the highway, I dropped my pants to my ankles and pissed freely. Tbh, as long as it’s semi hygienic, I see no problem with pissing in public. It’s prudish to get upset if you’re in the woods and someone is on the side of the path taking a leak.
5
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
I think it might be more accepted as something you've just got to do when you're driving in the middle of nowhere. In the city, when you can never be alone, and especially when you don't have the cover of darkness, it's so much more difficult, and you have to try and be considerate and do it either directly into a drain or on soft ground where it will get soaked up.
2
Castor_Troy [comrade/them,he/him] - 1w
Talk about posting hog on main.
8
CrookedSerpent [she/her] - 1w
Might get banned for this, but I think this rocks. More public piss coffins plz
5
vovchik_ilich [he/him] - 1w
Having visited China, as an able bodied cis male with no urination problems whatsoever, it's crazy the difference it can make to have widely available free public toilets essentially everywhere.
Knowing that at any time you're within 100-200/m of a well signalled, decently clean toilet, means that no longer do I have to think about how much to reduce my liquid intake in preparation for going out to take a walk or be with friends on the street. Thirsty? Just drink some water or get yourself something or whatever you want. It was fucking great I'm telling you.
5
Damarcusart [he/him, comrade/them] - 1w
Are a lot of public toilets over there squat toilets? I've heard a lot of mixed things and I haven't been able to get a clear answer.
3
vovchik_ilich [he/him] - 1w
I've only been to male toilets. In my experience it depends on the area you're visiting. A more modern neighborhood may have toilets and urinals, whereas older neighborhoods usually feature squat toilets.
3
AOCapitulator [they/them, she/her] - 1w
Lmao fallout preservation pods
5
causepix @lemmy.ml - 1w
So if I don't have a penis am I supposed to just piss myself or... ?
4
abc [he/him, comrade/them] - 1w
"you're supposed to squat that's what the grates are for, as a bonus the urinal makes a nice headreast i think" - the developer
3
Umechan [he/him] - 1w
They probably just expect you to suck it up and move on. They're only providing this because drunk men would be pissing in the streets if they didn't. They might provide better facilities if more women urinated in public.
2
aanes_appreciator [he/him, comrade/them] - 1w
Amsterdam's ones are better this is WAY too exposed.
2
LeeeroooyJeeenkiiins [none/use name] - 1w
are you supposed to piss in it with that door open or closed
Umechan in chat
It's truly impressive how London has managed to make pissing in the bushes look dignified and respectable.
I have pelvic floor tightness that has been exacerbated by starting Elvanse/Vyvanse, which means I often go from feeling nothing to suddenly feeling that I will wet myself if I don't find a toilet within 10 minutes, which is how I found this, the most persuasive argument I've ever seen against neoliberal austerity.
The main criticism of these kinds of urinals (yes, it's not the only one in London) is that they only serve able bodied and mostly cis men. I get the argument, but as an able bodied cis man (albeit one with a history of social anxiety) myself, I'd rather piss in the bushes. Going in the bushes is at least discreet, whereas this urinal may as well have a billboard saying "This motherfucker's got his cock out."
Edit: I did some further research and found this article from the BBC that says Westminster (the London borough containing Soho, Oxford Street, and many other major shopping and nightlife areas) only has 8 public restrooms for it's 8.3 square miles. That's terrible, even if this isn't counted as one of those 8, which it shouldn't be.
i hate those things too, for so many reasons. with the discretion thing, they will never say it explicitly but those things are designed for people who are standard english drunk at the end of a night (absolutely fucking smashed)
Yes, central London has some "telescopic toilets" that come out of the ground in the evening in order to prevent drunks from urinating in public. They could also prevent everyone from urinating in public by providing 24/7 public restrooms that you don't have to be drunk to use.
lmao
Calling a phone number to ask 'Oi whens the pisser open at Soho Square, gubnor?'
After economic privatization, the toilets started demanding a toll fee to enter. Soon after... the bus station began to reek of shit. The people did not want to pay the toll fee. No! They proclaimed, they shall be using the bushes instead.
On a particularly windy day, after a Novy God feats, people have had their fill of zakuski and kalbaski and it was time to go home, as you may expect the shit's smelled so bad and there were so many, babushkas started fainting.
When the, used to be pioneers, saw it, what little left of them there was, they raised their grin to the sky and shouted: "Lenin, look how they have Enshittified our motherland!" Then came the tears.
Austerity so bad can't afford to pay cops to go into toilets to get bjs then make post nut arrest for public sex. If cops can't get bjs on company time nobody can get bjs.
does this seem fair to you?
Piss coffin
Piss Iron Maiden
Urine Maiden
Noise Band
This seems way to small, like you're 100% guaranteed to get peepee on your footsies
As I understand it the problem is that without these urinals drunk mfers would be pissing on buildings and streets. If it was just bushes I don’t know if it would be such an issue.
I saw a similar thing in Amsterdam. They sort of pop out of the ground in spots near bars. They were always found next to the river which made me think they exist to prevent dumbasses from pissing in the river.
Yes, but London desperately needs public restrooms. It feels like they're only considering drunks because sober people are going to be too inhibited to urinate in public, especially in the daytime when there are so many people around.
That area of London has basically no public restrooms. I remember getting very annoyed because I bought a cup of coffee at a cafe there so I could use their restroom, and it was out of order. It's gotten to the point where I always need to keep a mental note of where I can find a public restroom when I need one, which are normally only at the very big rail hubs.
No you’re right it’s very much an issue for keeping up appearances and in no way is it meant as a service.
London needs the guy from Perfect Days running and cleaning a washroom system.
There’s a third option, public, free, and well maintained bathrooms every couple blocks. As someone with bladder issues, the amount of public restrooms in China was a godsend. Cleanliness was all over the place, though, and everyone brings their own TP because they don’t provide it.
The sidewalk isn't wet from rain...
You can always tell. If the wet patch starts in a corner and goes downwards, it's definitely piss.
Is that a closing door? Or just a semi-privacy shade?
Semi-privacy. I saw someone using it, and he was visible from the back.
Can you lean back against it while aiming into the little piss-arrow slit?
given the text about "when this urinal is closed, here's the nearest bathroom" am pretty sure it is a closing door
Hm yeah but sounds like it's actually not operable by the pisser
Maybe they shut it at the end of the day, and that would explain all the Google maps' reviews mentioning the smell. It was very small, so there's no way someone could close the door behind themselves while they're using it.
If anyone's curious, there's a picture of someone using it on Google Maps. There's also another that might be the urinal with the door locked.
most ppl I see pissing in bushes dont do it covertly at all. Im talking pull off on an exit, take two steps outta the car, drop pants to their ankles, and pull their dicks fully out sort of situation.
where are you driving i'd love to see this
I did that when I was a kid. Couldn’t hold it so parents pulled over on the highway, I dropped my pants to my ankles and pissed freely. Tbh, as long as it’s semi hygienic, I see no problem with pissing in public. It’s prudish to get upset if you’re in the woods and someone is on the side of the path taking a leak.
I think it might be more accepted as something you've just got to do when you're driving in the middle of nowhere. In the city, when you can never be alone, and especially when you don't have the cover of darkness, it's so much more difficult, and you have to try and be considerate and do it either directly into a drain or on soft ground where it will get soaked up.
Talk about posting hog on main.
Might get banned for this, but I think this rocks. More public piss coffins plz
Having visited China, as an able bodied cis male with no urination problems whatsoever, it's crazy the difference it can make to have widely available free public toilets essentially everywhere.
Knowing that at any time you're within 100-200/m of a well signalled, decently clean toilet, means that no longer do I have to think about how much to reduce my liquid intake in preparation for going out to take a walk or be with friends on the street. Thirsty? Just drink some water or get yourself something or whatever you want. It was fucking great I'm telling you.
Are a lot of public toilets over there squat toilets? I've heard a lot of mixed things and I haven't been able to get a clear answer.
I've only been to male toilets. In my experience it depends on the area you're visiting. A more modern neighborhood may have toilets and urinals, whereas older neighborhoods usually feature squat toilets.
Lmao fallout preservation pods
So if I don't have a penis am I supposed to just piss myself or... ?
"you're supposed to squat that's what the grates are for, as a bonus the urinal makes a nice headreast i think" - the developer
They probably just expect you to suck it up and move on. They're only providing this because drunk men would be pissing in the streets if they didn't. They might provide better facilities if more women urinated in public.
Amsterdam's ones are better this is WAY too exposed.
are you supposed to piss in it with that door open or closed
Open. There's not enough room to close it.