Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Place sinks outside public bathrooms

Is handwashing really a private activity anyway?
  (+13, -1)(+13, -1)
(+13, -1)
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Sinks should be placed outside public bathrooms rather than inside them. The advantages of doing so are numerous:

1) Since a bank of sinks could be shared between one men's and women's room, fewer total sinks could be installed— perhaps even half as many, depending on the peak duty cycle of the sinks. Hence, lower installation and maintenance costs.

2) Since sinks are in a public area, if somebody leaves the water running, it is more likely to be seen by a passerby and turned off promptly.

3) People are much less likely to litter in a public area than a private one.

4) You wouldn't have to wash your hands then touch the door handle (likely the filthiest part of the bathroom), or grab a paper towel to open the door with and find yourself without a trashcan nearby.

5) When subject to public scrutiny, people would be less likely to use the toilet then leave without washing their hands. Or, at least, if they did you'd know not to shake hands with them.

ytk, Mar 18 2011

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       So how are people meant to wash their rude bits then?
pocmloc, Mar 18 2011
  

       They can do it /When subject to pubic scrutiny/.
bungston, Mar 18 2011
  

       // When subject to pubic scrutiny// Will there be an admission fee ?
8th of 7, Mar 18 2011
  

       /Will there be an admission fee ?/   

       That, my friend, is already well baked.
ytk, Mar 18 2011
  

       This is sensible, practical, feasible and beneficial. Nevertheless, [+]
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 18 2011
  

       It's bad enough they're outside the stalls. [-]
gisho, Mar 18 2011
  

       Well that settles it then, hand wash activated door openers with exterior evil laugh activated hand dryers.   

       Dangerous! - an economically attractive and sensible idea.
hippo, Mar 19 2011
  

       As I've suggested before: two doors, each with a knob heated to sterilization temperatures. Turning first knob disables first hand, second hand required to turn second knob. Result: sanitized hands.
rcarty, Mar 19 2011
  

       For a moment, I thought that this was a command to excavate the region around public bathrooms
neelandan, Mar 19 2011
  

       Before I fess up as to the reason you must pay the admission fee.
bungston, Mar 19 2011
  

       My dad suggested this years ago. Great idea. [+]
doctorremulac3, Mar 20 2011
  

       I wouldn't mind this, as long as the saved space was used to provide at least one private sink / shower cubicle for when you need it. Sometimes I brush my teeth after lunch or rinse my penis after masturbating and prefer to do these in a private place.
idris83, Mar 20 2011
  

       saves on toothpaste I suppose
pocmloc, Mar 20 2011
  

       // Sometimes I brush my teeth after lunch or rinse my penis after masturbating and prefer to do these in a private place //   

       <Notes definitive evidence that [idris83] is not french>
8th of 7, Mar 20 2011
  

       Is it just me, or is there too much information here?
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 20 2011
  

       In one of his lesser known papers, Claude Shannon discussed the principle of "too much information" and develped the concept of "naughty bits."
mouseposture, Mar 20 2011
  

       Nice idea except that a) we have closed down or are busy closing down nearly all of our public rest rooms in the UK and b) an outside facility would probably be smashed into tiny little pieces by drunks, vandals or drunk vandals almost as soon as the sun set.
DrBob, Mar 21 2011
  

       Aren't those "sink" things actually just emergency urinals?
AntiQuark, Mar 21 2011
  

       Deal, only if it comes with automated opening doors and automated opening stalls as well.
quantum_flux, Mar 22 2011
  

       I'm hoping the door to the toilet can be knee'd open.
RayfordSteele, Mar 22 2011
  
      
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