In June, New York City began expanding access to public restrooms across all five NYC boroughs. Public restrooms can now more easily be located by using a Google Map layer or by checking Open Data, which provides a list of addresses, benefitting TLC-licensed drivers, street vendors, bike messengers, and others. The new map also designates categories for locations – like park, library, transit station, etc.
Over the next five years, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation will build 46 new restrooms and renovate 36 existing ones, adding to the city’s nearly 1,000 existing public restrooms. Called “Ur In Luck,” the initiative is being promoted through a series of online ads from June through September. A 2024 study ranked NYC public park restroom access at 86th out of 98 major cities.
