Wyoming Tops Ranking for Public Restroom Access in America

Public restroom access varies significantly across the United States, with Wyoming emerging as the leader in a recent study conducted by TENA, a global hygiene and health company. The state boasts an impressive average of 118 public restrooms available on mapping applications. Reviews indicate a high level of satisfaction, with 84% of ratings at four stars or above, highlighting cleanliness and maintenance as key strengths.

Top and Bottom States for Restroom Access

In contrast, Kentucky ranks last among the states, with only 20 restrooms listed, translating to a mere 0.04 facilities per 100,000 residents. Reports indicate over half of the reviews for Kentucky’s public restrooms rated them three stars or lower, citing issues with maintenance and overcrowding.

The study also identifies the top five states for public restroom access as follows:
1. Wyoming
2. Montana
3. Hawaii
4. Oregon
5. Idaho

Conversely, the bottom five states are:
1. Kentucky
2. New Hampshire
3. Georgia
4. Ohio
5. West Virginia

Cities Leading the Way

When examining cities, Pierre, South Dakota, stands out as the leader in restroom access. Every public restroom reviewed in Pierre received ratings of four stars or above, with more than one-third of facilities being wheelchair accessible. The city’s modest population ensures that facilities are well distributed, minimizing overcrowding.

The top five cities for restroom access include:
1. Pierre, South Dakota
2. San Francisco, California
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Hilo, Hawaii

On the other hand, several cities struggle with restroom availability. Evansville, Indiana, with a population of 113,971, has no public restrooms listed on mapping applications, creating a situation described by TENA as “sanitary deserts.” Such a lack of visibility complicates access for both residents and visitors, highlighting the need for improvements in public restroom availability.

Hazel Villarreal, Marketing Director at TENA, emphasized the challenges faced by the public: “With the U.S. already struggling for public bathrooms, improper tagging or capping of search results on map apps such as Google Maps or CityMapper can make it even harder to find the restrooms that do exist, leaving U.S. citizens unable to access basic sanitary facilities when they leave their homes.”

The findings from TENA are part of a broader initiative to improve public health and hygiene by enhancing restroom accessibility across the country. Their methodology involved compiling data from all 50 U.S. states and three populous cities from each state, examining discoverability, density, accessibility, and cleanliness.

For further insights and details, visit the TENA website. This study underscores the importance of public restroom access as a critical factor in community health and well-being, urging stakeholders to address the existing disparities.