Minneapolis Businesses Asked to Open their Restrooms to the Public

Signs that read “No public restrooms” on the doors of coffee shops in Minneapolis, Minnesota, may soon be a thing of the past due to a new restroom project in the city, the Star Tribune reports.

The 100 Restrooms Project, started by the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID), is seeking to more than triple the number of public restrooms in the city from the current 29 to 100. The group wants to solve a problem that plagues cities—people relieving themselves on the streets and sidewalks due to a lack of available toilets.

The DID’s annual Perception Survey has found public urination to be a top concern of survey takers the last five years. In response, DID is working to persuade the owners of hotels, restaurants, stores, and other businesses to allow noncustomers to use their restrooms.

In addition to opening formerly private restrooms to the public, the DID is looking to add new restrooms, including portable facilities, Bring Me the News MN reports. The group also is working on a plan to increase restroom signage so people can easily find existing public restrooms.

Professional cleaners in charge of formerly private restrooms will have to deal with increased restroom traffic under the 100 Restrooms Project. Learn how to eliminate excess restroom odors by watching CMM’s latest restroom care webinar.