[wirthjason]

Will they really not let you use the bathroom?

The same idea exists in the US, and often bathrooms have a PIN code to enter or a special key only the shop owner has.

I’ve never been turned down when asking politely. Most people are rather sympathetic when someone needs to use the bathroom for legitimate purposes.

[haliskerbas]

I’VE never been turned down. But I’ve seen others get turned down who don’t look like me ;)

[grahar64]

I once had to use a bathroom so stopped in a shop, they said customers only, so I bought the cheapest thing they had, a coke. Then, while I was in the bathroom another employee, who didn't see me purchase the drink started banging on the door yelling customers only. I looked like a tourist, this was in London near Hyde park, so maybe a bad area.

[dreamcompiler]

In the US it's because the homeless population in most cities is rising, and they have few places to use the toilet.

Business owners perceive the presence of homeless people as bad for business so they don't want to encourage homeless people to stick around. And they think homeless people will trash their bathrooms or use drugs inside which is dangerous for other customers and brings police presence.

So business owners lock up their bathrooms. Result: Even fewer places for homeless people to use the toilet.

[Aurornis]

> Business owners perceive the presence of homeless people as bad for business so they don't want to encourage homeless people to stick around. And they think homeless people will trash their bathrooms or use drugs inside which is dangerous for other customers and brings police presence.

These things aren’t just perceptions or thoughts. It’s a real problem that anyone who runs a business in a location with a homeless problem can attest to.

[wirthjason]

You’re totally right. And it’s important to distinguish between the many forms of homelessness. There’s visible homeless, they are what most people think of. There are also invisible homeless, they don’t “look” homeless. Often you don’t know they are homeless except for carrying around some belongings and brushing their teeth in public places.

Businesses care about the first type because of the associated problems and are completely fine with the later.