Study finds widespread inaccessibility and spatial inequity in Atlanta's public bathroom infrastructure
By
Brandie Banner Shackelford,
Summary
This study examines the availability, accessibility, and characteristics of public bathrooms in Atlanta, Georgia, treating them as a critical yet underexamined component of urban health infrastructure. Researchers conducted systematic audits across 15 areas, assessing 262 locations with 32 location-specific and 86 bathroom-specific criteria. Key findings reveal that 55.3% of identified locations were inaccessible, overall facility density was 18.2 per square kilometer with wide spatial variation (2.55-76.4), and 58.9% of accessible bathrooms were privately funded. Government-funded bathrooms had more functional toilets, urinals, and sinks, while privately funded facilities were more likely to be single-occupancy and accessible without gates or turnstiles. The study underscores spatial inequities and a reliance on private infrastructure to meet public sanitation needs.
Source
bskyStudy finds widespread inaccessibility and spatial inequity in Atlanta's public bathroom infrastructurejournals.plos.orgKey quotes
· 5 pulledPublic bathrooms are a critical yet underexamined component of urban health infrastructure in the United States.
Of 262 identified locations, 55.3% were inaccessible due to lack of a publicly accessible bathroom, locked doors, or being fully occupied for more than 10 minutes.
Government-funded bathrooms had a larger quantity of functional toilets, urinals, and sinks, whereas privately funded facilities were more likely to be single-occupancy and allow use without first requiring access via gate or turnstile.
Findings reveal spatial inequities in public bathroom access across Atlanta and a reliance on private infrastructure to meet public needs, underscoring uneven urban sanitation provisions as a feature of the city's built environment.
As public bathroom availability declines, private bathrooms like those in businesses are increasingly serving as de facto 'public' options, raising questions about equity and accessibility.
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