NYC's New Game of "Thrones": 17 New Modular Public Bathrooms Being Installed Citywide
The $4 million pilot uses self-contained units with touchless entry, a 10-minute limit and service by Throne Labs, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the installation of 17 modular public bathrooms across New York City as part of a $4 million, year-long pilot targeting high-traffic areas throughout the five boroughs.
- Officials established the pilot to address a severe shortage, with only one public bathroom currently available for every 8,500 residents. The initiative supports a 2025 city goal to create 1,000 new restrooms within a decade.
- Throne Labs will operate touchless, ADA-accessible units requiring a text message, QR code, app, or tap card for entry. These solar-powered facilities include running water and climate control without needing permanent utility connections.
- Critics warned the electronic entry system creates a barrier for homeless New Yorkers without reliable cellphone access. Addressing this, Mamdani stated the city will partner with local organizations to distribute tap cards for broad accessibility.
- The units operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a 10-minute time limit per visit to prevent extended stays. Throne will monitor usage for cleanliness and safety while the city evaluates the pilot to inform future network expansion.
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The city will allocate USD 4 million to a pilot program that will bring free and accessible toilets to high-transit areas in all five districts. Units will be open every day and can be located through an application.
Find out where New York's 17 free public bathrooms will be, their schedules, how to access and what services they will offer during the pilot program
Game of ‘Thrones’: NYC is getting 17 new public bathrooms, with digital entry and a 10-minute limit
New Yorkers desperate for a place to go are getting 17 new public bathrooms across the five boroughs, but the high-tech system meant to keep them clean and functioning is already raising concerns that homeless New Yorkers without reliable cellphone access could struggle to get inside. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that installation has…
NYC to install 17 new public bathrooms across the city, starting this week
Seventeen state-of-the art new public bathrooms will be open for business soon in neighborhoods across the city under a pilot project designed to bring relief to people in their time of need.
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