October 6, 2006
Metro Special Order: Passengers Must Not Pee By Themselves
Public agencies are not generally known for their efficiency and oversight. Whether it's the D.C. police, the public school system, or Congress itself, this kind of criticism has dogged just about every agency out there. While Metro has not been an exception to this trend, it seems they have things covered when it comes to potty privileges.
DCist Tom snapped this picture of the rules and regulations governing use of Metro's various johns, posted in McPherson Square. Metro seems to think it warrants a special order with eight full subsections to let us know exactly how to go about using the loo. You can make out most of the lengthy text in this larger shot.
As you can see, the restrictions on who can use Metro's Roman tea rooms and who cannot are pretty strict:
31.2 The circumstances under which the restroom will be made available are:Even if you are one of the select few qualified to drop your drawers in Metro's little fortresses of solitude, you'd better prepare for some company.
A. In an emergency situation
B. For children
C. For customers who are elderly or physically disabled
31.3 The Station Manager must escort the customer to the ancillary hallway where the restroom is located and direct him/her to the Customer’s Restroom, then return to normal duties. Customers will be allowed to exit the restroom, without the Station Manager’s assistance, through the ancillary hallway door. After the customer exits the hallway, the Station Manager shall ensure that the ancillary hallway door is secured.Anyone else feel like we're back in 4th grade all over again?
|
Do they go into the stall with you as well? Hunter Cashdollar
I used a Metro bathroom a few weeks ago, but only because the station manager just happened to be a very nice woman who was sympathetic of me having to go so badly.
It was a relief, obviously, but it was actually a little creepy. There were employee lockers, a break room and a bathroom -- I felt like I was trespassing in a secret, underground culture.
On the last WaPo chat with Dan T., he said that there is no bathroom restriction: all you have to do is ask the station manager. He mentioned there are two stations where customers cannot use the bathroom due to security risks. I assume one of these stations is Pentagon. Dunno what the other is (he didn't specify).
It's a combination maintenance/security issue. The magic password is "emergency" and Metro makes it difficult enough that anything less just isn't worth it.
I don't know where you went to school. But we were allowed to go to the bathroom unattended. Even in the first grade. It was only in high school when drugs and smoking entered the equation that going to the bathroom became ridiculous (they took all the stall doors off!) and I'm proud to say that I never once used the restroom in my high school.
i use the restrooms in the metro all the time... sure, you can ask the station manager permission, but most of the time they are going to say no and make some excuse about security cuz they don't want to take the time to escort you. I've found that everyone is much happier if you just take it upon yourself to find the restroom. They are located in all stations behind the "employee only" doors (which are never locked). The "Customer Restroom" is located behnd these doors and is almost ALWAYS locked... that's why you continue walking to the next door marked "EMPLOYEE RESTROOM" which is *NEVER* locked... if anyone says anything just pretend to be a confused tourist looking for a restroom and at the worst you'll just get escorted out and a stern lecture about post 9/11 security.
I love how an "emergency" is all it takes. As if I'd be asking to use the restroom simply because I got bored of the rest of the station.
One of the security risk stations is Vienna, because the bathroom is right next to an unsecured door that leads directly onto the tracks. Or something. And the other one is downtown, I think (Metro Center?).
I'm guessing a precedent was set at some point that forced them to put this policy in place.
Mojo:
It was a some sort of media fiasco that forced the (not well publicized) change. It happend sometime in the 90's, I think.
Matt:
Thinking about there being unlocked doors and vacant hallways in Metro stations is more than a bit scary, isn't it? Maybe some of our crime security cameras should be put there...
As you can clearly see in that photograph, the "special order" is dated March 2004. I'm fairly sure they've had those signs hanging in Woodley Park and Bethesda (next to the elevators at both stations) ever since. This isn't "news" to many of us.
They probably didn't want crackheads smoking up and passing out, or dying in there. It's bad for morale when you find a stiff slumped in the corner of your bathroom.
The '80s were rough...
I can tell you exactly why Metro's policy is in place. Because they didn't want their bathrooms to become places where bums hung out all day and panhandled people. Plus, Mark Foley kept 'using' the same bathroom all day..... What? A little joke....
Can you imagine how the bathrooms would be if they were in fact commonly used?
Seriously, if you really have to go, tell the station attendant. If they are snotty to you, tell them they have two choices - either you use the bathroom or you go right there in front of them. I guarantee you they'll let you use the bathroom.
Is there some rule that you have to cover this exact issue every six months, or something? Maybe it's just been previous "Transit on ..." posts, but I know I've seen this Metro bathroom discussion at least three times before on DCist.
And just out of curiosity, what part of this policy is the least bit irrational or unjust? Or is it just funny for some reason that they have a policy?
Crackheads and bums are bad enough, but I was thinking of genuine terrorist threats. Not the stupid stuff Rumsfeld advised us to by duct tape and plastic drop cloths to counter, but real things, like bombs in out of the way places that are, none the less, next to mass transit locations. Those doors should be locked.
Nate: what can we say? Certain things are of perennial interest to our readers (as judged by comments). Among them: pandas, Borf, smoking bans, church parking and, yes, all things Metro.
This certainly isn't breaking news, but it's information that I, at least, wasn't aware of before seeing this sign, and I think some folks probably found it interesting. If you're bored by it, just ignore it. But yes -- odds of there being another Metro bathroom post on DCist at some point in the future are probably pretty high.