New robotoilets in New York give users just 10 minutes before the door opens
No scrolling on your phone.
A NYC futuristic modular toilet, with a 10 minute time warning. Image by Cybernews.
- New York is rolling out 17 modular bathrooms, with the first already operating in Brooklyn and Queens as part of a $4 million pilot.
- The toilets automatically open after 10 minutes, with warnings given in English and Spanish.
- Users can unlock them by texting a number or tapping a designated card, potentially excluding people without smartphones or cards.
- The forced door opening could create problems for people who need longer, particularly those with health or accessibility needs.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
New York City has begun rolling out a network of high-tech modular public bathrooms. The first units are now operating in Brooklyn and Queens, with 17 planned in total.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has commissioned the $4 million toilet pilot scheme to give New Yorkers more places to use the bathroom while out in the city.
It comes with a catch however, as an automated time of 10 minutes is ticking away, complete with automated warnings.
Once the 10 minutes expire, the toilet announces, “Attention, your use time has expired, the door is opening now,” in both English and Spanish, before the door automatically slides open.
If the toilet-goer refuses to leave, then the workers are alerted – and a call to the cops is an option as a last resort.
The system is designed to prevent people from occupying the toilets for long periods, but the forced door opening creates a privacy issue for anyone who needs longer, for example, someone with health issues.
The toilets are operated by tech startup Throne Labs and can be accessed by texting a number with a smartphone or using designated cards that can be tapped to access.
Smart toilet, complicated access
The rollout comes amid a shortage of public bathrooms in the city. Officials estimate that across the 5 boroughs there are only approximately 1000 toilets.
The Coalition for the Homeless reported that in 2025 there were over 10,000 charges for public order offences for urinating in public given by the New York Police Department (NYPD).
In fact, a spokesperson for The Free to Pee Coalition, led by the Coalition for the Homeless, said:
Many may not have a smartphone or be able to easily obtain a physical tap card, and modular bathrooms alone will not change the current imbalance in bathroom access,said a spokesperson for The Free to Pee Coalition.
While increasing accessibility seems to be the goal for delivering better public facilities, requiring a smartphone to open the door, plus being given a strict limit may affect other groups such as the elderly or disabled.
Designed for ease of use
The modular design however, is intended to make the facilities easier to install and operate, as they are not connected to the city's water and sewage systems.
Speaking of the launch, Mayor Mamdani said, “Too many New Yorkers know what it’s like to have nowhere to go while they’re on the go,” adding that the trial will offer a “clean, safe, accessible bathroom when they need one.”
The facilities also include free pad dispensers and plant-themed wallpaper in order to make them feel more welcoming.
As expected, the majority of bathrooms will be in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with Staten Island also having one to open soon.
