Prague wants to significantly improve its network of public toilets. The city has commissioned a concept aimed at ensuring greater cleanliness, accessibility, and a better distribution. The goal is that no one should have to walk more than 300 metres to the nearest toilet.
The Prague City Council on Monday approved the development of a comprehensive concept for the accessibility of public toilets. The Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) will now prepare a plan based on an existing analysis to ensure that there are enough toilets in good condition available throughout the city.
The objective is for residents to have access to a public toilet within a maximum distance of 300 metres – something that is currently the case only in a few parts of the city. “The analysis examines various models – from new facilities and the opening of existing toilets in public buildings to cooperation with cafés or shopping centres,” explained Petr Hlaváček, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Urban Development.
According to the study, Prague residents most frequently use toilets in shopping centres, which are appreciated for their cleanliness. However, these are often subject to a charge – a problem both for people with low income and for those who do not carry cash. It is therefore conceivable that restaurants and cafés could also make their toilets accessible to the public under clearly defined conditions.
“The construction of new municipal toilets would be expensive and time-consuming, and the city would have to take over their operation. It makes more sense to cooperate with businesses that make their facilities available free of charge – and, of course, barrier-free,” said Adam Zábranský, Councillor for Property Management, Transparency, and Legislation.
Prague’s Mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, emphasised the social importance of the initiative: “The availability of public toilets may seem like a minor issue, but it has a major impact on quality of life. Prague should be a city where people feel comfortable – quite literally, at every step.”
The Director of the Institute of Planning and Development, Ondřej Boháč, added that the first phase of the work – a comprehensive study – has now been completed. This showed that citizens consider two things particularly important: good accessibility and cleanliness. The next project phase will therefore provide concrete proposals for where and to what extent new public toilets should be built and how they could be designed.
