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Planet Money
Planet Money

Why it's so hard to find a public toilet

May 2, 2025 · 24m
AI Summary
  • The U.S. historically had many publicly accessible toilets, but many required coins, creating unequal access based on ability to pay
  • In the 1960s, movements successfully banned pay toilets, but this led to a drastic decrease in free public restrooms overall
  • Toilets exist in a legal and economic gray zone—neither a clear public good nor solvable by free market mechanisms, leaving people without bathroom access

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