Fortified toilets

[isomeme]

Lately I've noticed that a lot of formerly quasi-public spaces are being secured against intruders.  My own office building recently reduced the hours during which you can enter the lobby without a key card.  The building across the alley from us has locked the corridor which used to provide easy access to the Promenade.  And it's effectively

Comments

[abrasax]

I'm not seeing any of that in Texas. From here that all sounds very California. ;)

[ayin26]

As always my friend, you have a keen eye.

Being, as I am, so reliant upon public transportation, and on the kindness, of offices, and businesses to supply me with a throne, when the fateful moments arrives, I too have noticed an alarming increase in the amount of restrooms, that have been locked down on the roaming street urchin's like me.

I think that your conjecture is absolutely correct, that cost, has made this a more viable option for businesses, and they are taking advantage of it. It follows on the 90's trend of removing mirrors to avoid graffiti,and is an extension of the whole token locks for patrons only.

For my part, I really wish that more businesses held an open door policy, but I cannot imagine running a store, or office, and having to deal with the hassle of having to keep them clean. Heck, many of the low-end jobs I have gone through over the years have enough trouble cleaning up after their own employees...

Re: It's just economics......

[ayin26]

Damnable practicality...

Re: It's just economics......

[ayin26]

Hahaha

So Mote it Be!

[fraterseraphino]

It's certainly a general trend in Santa Monica--but the trend here in Glendale seems to be the opposite with the opening of the Americana and the rezoning of downtown Glendale to attempt to increase pedestrian traffic.

I suspect it has to do more with the willingness to pay for increased pedestrian traffic. Glendale wants to convert the entire swath of land from the 134 Freeway at Brand/Central all the way down to the Americana and the Glendale Galleria into a mixed pedestrian/business district--and to encourage greater traffic, more amenities are being provided and more businesses are being "open." However, Santa Monica has as much pedestrian traffic it can stand--so fewer and fewer are willing to pay (through paying for utilities and restrooms and the like) for increased traffic.

Once the Santa Monica mall re-opens, I suspect the trend will reverse itself as more pedestrian traffic is pulled out of the 3rd street Promenade and into the anchor mall at the end.

ARA

[frater_x]

http://www.americanrestroom.org/gov/hhs/index.htm

Re: ARA

[frater_x]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggJrAIZ4Kjo

go electric