How did Moscow solve the common problem of people in need of answering the call of nature while walking around the city? In a very simple way—porta-potties.
Porta-potties of every color pop up all over the city. Upon first seeing the porta-potties in Red Square, I thought that the authorities brought them out to accommodate the crowds expected on Victory Day. However, as we spent more time in Moscow, we encountered similar facilities almost everywhere we went.
Prices varied depending on the location. The closer the porta-potty was to the city center, or a major tourist attraction, the higher was the fee to use it. Strangely enough we saw some free ones along Nikolskaya Street, but nobody was using them. Perhaps they were locked—I did not check.
Each row of porta-potties was attended by a woman, often an older lady, who collected the money and kept the units relatively clean and stocked with toilet paper. Every porta-potty attendant had her own port-potty. In other words, in a row of porta-potties, there was one never used for nature calls. Instead, it was furnished, probably by the attendant herself, to provide a comfortable shelter from the elements. The ones I happened to see were often decorated, and always well stocked with cleaning supplies, food, newspapers and magazines.
The porta-potties definitely provide an excellent and cheap solution to the common problem of people looking for a public restroom while walking around in Moscow. However, despite their colorfulness, they do not add to the beauty of the city.
Porta-potties of every color pop up all over the city. Upon first seeing the porta-potties in Red Square, I thought that the authorities brought them out to accommodate the crowds expected on Victory Day. However, as we spent more time in Moscow, we encountered similar facilities almost everywhere we went.Prices varied depending on the location. The closer the porta-potty was to the city center, or a major tourist attraction, the higher was the fee to use it. Strangely enough we saw some free ones along Nikolskaya Street, but nobody was using them. Perhaps they were locked—I did not check.Each row of porta-potties was attended by a woman, often an older lady, who collected the money and kept the units relatively clean and stocked with toilet paper. Every porta-potty attendant had her own port-potty. In other words, in a row of porta-potties, there was one never used for nature calls. Instead, it was furnished, probably by the attendant herself, to provide a comfortable shelter from the elements. The ones I happened to see were often decorated, and always well stocked with cleaning supplies, food, newspapers and magazines.
The porta-potties definitely provide an excellent and cheap solution to the common problem of people looking for a public restroom while walking around in Moscow. However, despite their colorfulness, they do not add to the beauty of the city.
hilarious! what an odd thing to find when you've been away for just a few years. i'm scared to use port-o-potties in the states (i've only used one once in my life so far), but with the toilet ladies, the moscow ones seem nice and clean to use!
ReplyDeleteThat's really odd.
ReplyDeleteIn NZ, they have those permanent outdoor toilets that you pay to use--some even with showers. Occasionally they lock themselves to do a cleaning cycle--washing themselves out with hot water. I kept wondering what would happening if you got trapped in the wash cycle.
So let me get this right... you pay per visit for the use of a port o let?
ReplyDeleteReplying to jcne about the portable showers for public use in NZ... do you have a link with photos for these facilities? thanks
Well done moscow for solving the problem, i think by paying money we can expect porta potties to be clean :)
ReplyDelete