New York City Gives the Public Bathroom a Tap Card

New York City has introduced an innovative use for the tap card by installing 17 modular bathrooms across its five boroughs. These free public toilets, equipped with flushing toilets, running water, climate control, and baby-changing stations, can be unlocked using a text message, QR code, app, or the card itself. The city aims to address the challenge of finding available restrooms in a densely populated area where roughly 1,000 public bathrooms exist for over 8 million residents.

The new units will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Throne Labs, a company specializing in such technologies, will manage and maintain the facilities. Visitors can unlock the doors by texting "Throne" followed by the unit number, scanning a QR code, using the app, or presenting the tap card. The digital entry system allows Throne to track visits, cleanliness ratings, and potential misuse, such as smoking.

The bathroom doors also include a timer, alerting users when their five-minute visit is halfway over or when time is running out. While the tap card helps those without smartphones or charged batteries access the facilities, a 10-minute walk to collect the card may still pose a challenge. The pilot program, funded with $4 million, will examine whether the technology improves cleanliness, availability, and ease of access to the restrooms.