Paris’s New Public Urinals Spark Debate Over Gender, Public Space, and Urban Cleanliness
Paris’s experiment with eco-friendly public urinals raises questions about gender equity, city aesthetics, and the right to public space.
Paris’s Experiment with Public Urinals: Tackling a Chronic Problem or Creating New Ones?
In the summer of 2018, Paris introduced a bold urban experiment: open-air public urinals, dubbed uritrottoirs, designed to combat a perennial problem of public urination on city streets. Heralded by some as a practical and environmentally friendly solution, these installations have sparked intense public debate—reigniting longstanding questions about gender equity, urban aesthetics, and whose rights are prioritized in public space.
The Persistent Problem of ‘Pipi Sauvage’ in Paris
For decades, Paris has grappled with rampant public urination—a phenomenon so widespread it has its own nickname: pipi sauvage, or “wild peeing.” The city’s dense population, vibrant nightlife, and scarcity of accessible public toilets all contribute to this issue. Authorities estimate that the odor and stains left by urine are not only unsightly but also damage historic buildings and frustrate both residents and visitors.
- Daily reality: Locals and tourists alike commonly witness men urinating in doorways, on trees, or behind parked cars in broad daylight.
- Urban nuisance: The unpleasant smell is a noted feature of some neighborhoods, especially after weekends or large public events.
- Legal response: Public urination can result in fines—over 5,000 fines were reportedly issued in a single year.
The Return of the Urinal: Introducing the Uritrottoir
To address the situation, city authorities trialed a new design: the uritrottoir—a sidewalk urinal that doubles as a planter. These devices are intended to be visible, easy to access, and eco-friendly, containing straw and composting materials that transform urine into fertilizer for city gardens.
- Design: The uritrottoir features a flower box on top and a urine collection system below, blending with urban landscaping.
- Composting function: Urine is combined with straw and composted, with the intention of reusing the nutrients.
- Locations: Initial pilot sites included major tourist areas and historic neighborhoods, such as the picturesque Île Saint-Louis.
Historical Roots: Paris’s Long Relationship with Public Urinals
The idea isn’t new. Paris was once known for its pissotières, open urinals installed in the 19th century. These early urinals emerged from practical necessity: men relieving themselves on the street was such a nuisance that in the 1830s, city officials resorted to building hundreds of phallic-shaped urinal columns.
By the 1840s, around 400 public urinals dotted the city, growing to over 1,000 by the German occupation during World War II. More than just sanitary devices, these structures became intertwined with social and political life:
- Social spaces: Marginalized communities, such as gay men, appropriated the privacy of urinals to discreetly socialize at a time when homosexuality was heavily policed.
- Political intrigue: During WWII, urinals served as secret rendezvous points for resistance fighters and spies.
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By the late 20th century, however, changing attitudes towards public decorum—and complaints about smell, safety, and inclusivity—led to the near total elimination of pissotières in favor of enclosed, unisex sanisettes (self-cleaning cubicles).
Echoes of the Past: Gender Disparities in Public Sanitation
Public urinals in Paris have historically excluded women. Early officials deemed women’s facilities unnecessary or a waste of space. This exclusion has modern parallels: the new uritrottoir, though innovative, is only accessible to men, reigniting debates over equitable access to public sanitary infrastructure.
- While men are provided with readily accessible facilities, women often have to seek out scarce public toilets, endure longer queues, or make do with unsanitary options.
- This contributes to a wider phenomenon known as the “potty parity” problem—unequal toilet access based on gender, which urban planners and activists say reflects broader social priorities.
Recent feminist protests have targeted the uritrottoirs, arguing that their existence sends the message that men own the public streets and can expose themselves freely, while women’s needs are minimized or ignored.
Community Reactions: From Outrage to Acceptance
The introduction of open-air urinals triggered vociferous reactions, revealing a split among residents, business owners, and city officials:
- Heritage concerns: Residents of historic districts decried the visual intrusion of the uritrottoirs, worried that their presence would mar the iconic Parisian streetscape and deter tourists.
- Privacy and decency: Many were uncomfortable with men urinating in plain sight, especially near homes, playgrounds, or busy sidewalks.
- Practical approval: Others found the new urinals convenient, reporting that they did not smell and were easy to use, particularly for those out late at night.
- Media attention: The installations became lightning rods for both social media humor and serious policy discussion about the design and distribution of urban amenities.
Eco-Urinals: Green Solution or Greenwashing?
The uritrottoir was promoted as an eco-friendly sanitary innovation. By diverting urine from streets and recycling it as fertilizer, city officials hoped not only to reduce public urination but also to advance urban sustainability. However, these claims have not gone unchallenged:
- The environmental impact is modest compared to broader issues of waste management.
- For some, the flower planters atop the urinals appear as an aesthetic fig leaf rather than a substantive solution.
There is genuine interest in redesigning public toilets to be more sustainable, but many critics argue that better urban planning—more frequent cleaning, increased toilet access, maintenance, and investment in all-gender facilities—would yield more significant public health and environmental results.
Solutions for All? Responding to Feminist Critiques and Equity Challenges
The backlash from women’s groups and gender equity advocates has prompted city officials and entrepreneurs to seek more inclusive solutions:
- Expansion of amenities: Paris increased the number of unisex sanisettes (enclosed toilets) to several hundred across the city.
- Entrepreneurial responses: Startups like Madame Pee have developed urinals specifically designed for women, addressing the anatomical and privacy needs oft-neglected by city infrastructure.
- The future of these installations remains uncertain, with their permanence and impact still being evaluated.
Activists emphasize that meaningful public toilet access is central to full participation in urban life—impacting everything from health and safety to equal access for people with disabilities, seniors, and parents of young children.
Global Context: Are Paris’s Pee Problems Unique?
Paris is hardly alone in facing challenges around public urination and gendered sanitation. Major cities around the world, from London to San Francisco to Mumbai, have struggled with how to provide enough clean, safe, and equitable restroom facilities in densely populated urban cores.
| City | Solution | Controversies |
|---|---|---|
| London | Pop-up urinals, public toilets | Gender access, NIMBYism |
| San Francisco | Self-cleaning toilets | Cost, maintenance |
| Mumbai | Gender-segregated toilets, open urinals | Safety, cleanliness |
| Paris | Uritrottoirs, sanisettes, female urinals | Gender access, aesthetics |
The controversies invariably center on design, inclusivity, placement, and cost—but also on deeper cultural attitudes toward gender, privacy, and bodily autonomy.
The Future of Public Toilets in Paris: Inclusive, Sustainable, Beautiful?
Paris’s urinal debate is a case study in urban compromise. The city’s efforts to reconcile the demands of sanitation, gender equity, historical preservation, and environmental sustainability reflect the complexities faced by planners everywhere.
- Officials insist that resolving “pipi sauvage” remains a top priority, but solutions must be inclusive and sensitive to residents’ concerns.
- More thoughtful urban toilet planning could improve safety, accessibility, and dignity for all city-dwellers and visitors.
As cities grow more populous and public space becomes ever more contested, the humble public toilet—often ignored until urgently needed—emerges as a key marker of urban democracy and modernity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are uritrottoirs and why were they installed in Paris?
A: Uritrottoirs are open-air, eco-friendly public urinals designed to reduce public urination in Paris. They collect urine in a composting material and are topped with flower planters, aiming to address issues of cleanliness and sanitation in city streets.
Q: Why did the new urinals provoke controversy?
A: The uritrottoirs are only usable by men and are prominently visible in public spaces, leading to criticism over gender discrimination, privacy, and their potential impact on historic neighborhoods.
Q: Is there a solution for women’s access to public toilets in Paris?
A: The city has expanded the number of enclosed, unisex toilets and supported private initiatives to create female-friendly urinals, though critics argue more needs to be done for genuine parity in public sanitation access.
Q: Are there penalties for public urination in Paris?
A: Yes, public urination is illegal and can incur fines. In recent years, enforcement has increased, with thousands of fines issued annually.
Q: How do the uritrottoirs work?
A: These urinals contain straw and other compostables that absorb urine, which is later used as fertilizer for city gardens. The visible top functions as a flower box, helping the unit blend with urban landscaping.
References
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-paris-open-air-urinals-changed-cityand-helped-dismantle-nazi-regime-180973704/
- https://www.wuwf.org/2018-09-11/paris-tries-to-control-rampant-public-urination-with-sidewalk-urinals
- https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/entre-nous/20250715-public-toilets-in-paris-where-to-go-when-you-need-to-go
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XqyiC-vNYs
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