Take any downtown area, where most merchants close when the sun goes down. Now make it a college town with a tavern on every corner. Mix in some late-night revelers and what do you have? An opportunity for a portable restroom operator to step in and solve a big problem.
In State College, Pa., home of Penn State University, the downtown district is fighting a growing problem with public urination as partiers leave the bars and have no place to go … literally. Borough officials are taking a three-prong approach to the problem, according to the Web site, www.statecollege.com.
First, they’ve raised the maximum fine for public urination or defecation to $600. Next they’re opening several public bathrooms in parking garages for 24-hour service. And thirdly – and most interesting to portable restroom operators – they’re going to place portable restrooms in strategic locations to serve the over-served. The public works director in State College told the Web site the four units would be fastened to the ground to deter vandalism.
Officials said they would leave the units in place at least until the end of the Penn State football season this year.
While it’s commonplace to see restrooms throughout busy downtown areas in some European cities, these placements might be a newer frontier for restroom contractors in America. Is there a busy college or tourist district in your service territory that could benefit from semi-permanent placement of your restrooms? If you’ve seen a similar shortage of public bathrooms in your area, have you approached the city and offered to solve their problems?
If you have a story to share, drop me a line at editor@promonthly.com.
