Jan 11, 2008 6:13 am US/Eastern
First Flush: NYC Unveils Public Pay Toilet
Up To 20 Planned Throughout 5 Boroughs In Next 2 Years
By Scott Rapoport, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Just when you thought New York City had everything, city officials on Thursday unveiled the first public pay toilet. The "outhouse" does everything, including cleaning the floors when you're done.
CBS
There's a new first for the city that has everything. You'll find it in New York City's Madison Square Park. Think of it as a new business for people who need to do their business.
The city on Thursday unveiled its first automatic pay toilet. City big-wigs seem to think it's a great idea.
"This is a truly historic occasion," one said.
Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff said the city is just supplying a service to residents who asked for it. That's right. They apparently
asked for it.
"People have been clamoring for it for a long time. They absolutely have," Doctoroff said.
When asked if he actually heard citizens clamor, Doctoroff said, "I not only have … I've read them."
The "Pay-Per-Potty" -- as some cleverly call it -- is purported to be automatically self cleaning. It even does the floors and is touted as more sanitary than regular public toilets.
Hey, what isn't?
"Right now it's brand new. See me in about two weeks," one New Yorker said.
Inside the unit, a sit-down, so to speak, will cost you a quarter.
Needless to say, many New Yorkers who spoke to CBS 2 HD are flabbergasted.
"I don't understand why I would pay to use something that I could use for free someplace else," one resident said.
The quarter will get you get 15 minutes of private time -- and not a second more.
The big-wigs joked that if you stay inside for more than 15 minutes, "You get locked in forever."
Or, you get publicly humiliated because once your time is up, the door swings open pretty fast.
"The doors open and the eyes of New York are upon you," said Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
Just in case you don't know how much time you have left, a handy-dandy warning light will give you a three-minute warning.
But are New Yorkers ready to pay to ... you know?
"Probably not," one said.
"Not unless I have to use it really, really bad," said another.
The city thinks so and has contracted for 20 of these which will start popping up in the five boroughs over the next two years.
"This is a movement whose time has come," Doctoroff said to laughter.
That toilet and all the other automatic pay toilets to follow will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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