Overview
- City crews began placing 17 free modular restrooms across all five boroughs, a pilot that started on Sept. 16–17 and will run for 12 months to gather usage and maintenance data.
- The units will operate daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., are ADA-accessible, include running water and baby-changing stations, and do not require direct hookups to water, sewer or electric grids.
- Each toilet uses contactless entry—text, QR code, the Throne Bathroom Network app or a physical access card—and enforces a 10-minute time limit with audio/visual warnings and an automated door opening.
- Throne Labs was selected by NYCEDC to supply, clean and maintain the network using sensors and real-time user feedback to track visits, trigger cleaning after roughly 10–15 uses, and detect issues such as smoking.
- Advocates praise added options for older adults, parents and delivery workers but warn that limited sites and card distribution for people without phones must be resolved before any larger rollout to meet the city’s goal to double public bathrooms by 2035.