New York releases open data toilet map

New York City and Google have rolled out a new map for residents and visitors to more easily locate public toilets across the city.

The new Google Map layer–which will be updated biannually–includes toilets operated by the city’s various departments including parks, transit, ‘privately-owned public spaces,’ and all three of New York’s library systems.

“Part of making New York City a more liveable city is tackling the little things–the things we don’t think about until we need them,” said the mayor, Eric Adams. “Access to public restrooms is high on that list, maybe even number one or two.”

Data on the city’s public restrooms will be available on Open Data to enable the public to build their own tools leveraging the data and to conduct analysis around the city’s public toilets, using one reliable data set.

Building more public toilets

Along with the new map, the mayor announced Ur In Luck, a new effort to expand access to public toilets across all five boroughs. Over the next five years, the city will build 46 new bathrooms and renovate 36 existing ones, adding to New York City’s nearly 1,000 existing public restrooms.

And a new joint taskforce will be established to bring city departments together to assist in siting and fast-tracking approvals for 14 new high-tech, self-cleaning automatic public toilets on city pavements and plazas.

The city said that everyone, from the elderly to children, needs access to a public toilet without having to “buy anything or beg for a code”.

“I have learned through my Got2Go community that New York City’s lack of public restrooms is not only a quality of life and public health issue, but it is an equity crisis,” said Teddy Siegel, Founder, Got2GoNYC. “The city’s action to tackle this pressing issue is a huge step and will improve the lives of all New Yorkers and tourists.”