Helpful directions in Edinburgh

[Tobus]

Perhaps a dumb question, but what's the metal contraption in the doorway? A turnstile or pay station?

[fflex]

It will be a turnstile that you pay with coins to get through. There are similar ones elsewhere such as the Bus station and the train station and unless you have the right change you don’t get in! Bad news for those in dire need!

Here I sit, broken hearted; paid the toll and only f*rted.... sorry, couldn’t resist..

[Allan Thomson]

Here I sit, broken hearted; paid the toll and only f*rted.... sorry, couldn’t resist..

Gives a whole other meaning to Toll Booth perhaps?....

[Kiltedjohn]

It will be a turnstile that you pay with coins to get through. There are similar ones elsewhere such as the Bus station and the train station and unless you have the right change you don’t get in! Bad news for those in dire need!

In fairness to the shopping centre's owners/managers, there is a change machine provided. Also, on the day the photo was taken, the change machine was out of action, and in consequence they allowed free entry! A careful look at the turnstile will show that the rotating bar across the entrance has been removed.

[Tobus]

I didn't mean to derail the thread, but I'm slighly astounded by the idea of charging an entry fee to use the loo. Here in my neck of the proverbial woods, such a brazen attempt at nickel-and-diming people over such a basic physical need would be met with outrage, derision, and likely a social media campaign to boycott the venue. They would claim (and perhaps rightly so) that this is capitalism gone awry, and a thinly-veiled attempt to discourage certain social classes from being there. Businesses here sometimes have a policy of restrooms being only for paying customers, but even that has been attacked recently as discriminatory. Is this sort of toll station for restrooms common in the UK?

[Father Bill]

I didn't mean to derail the thread, but I'm slighly astounded by the idea of charging an entry fee to use the loo. Here in my neck of the proverbial woods, such a brazen attempt at nickel-and-diming people over such a basic physical need would be met with outrage, derision, and likely a social media campaign to boycott the venue. They would claim (and perhaps rightly so) that this is capitalism gone awry, and a thinly-veiled attempt to discourage certain social classes from being there. Businesses here sometimes have a policy of restrooms being only for paying customers, but even that has been attacked recently as discriminatory. Is this sort of toll station for restrooms common in the UK?

Not unusual anywhere in Europe.

[imbrius]

Businesses here sometimes have a policy of restrooms being only for paying customers, but even that has been attacked recently as discriminatory.

Pay toilets used to be very common in the U.S. up until half a century ago, hence the stereotypical humorous rhymes. Also, yes. In areas with a very high population of transient persons with habits of using illicit narcotics, combination locks and token fee systems are common. Off the top of my head I can think of Portland, Oregon as one place where an open-for-all-to-use restroom is the exception rather than the rule, but that's slowly shifting as the city moderates its affordable housing crisis.

[Tobinn]

Pay toilets used to be very common in the U.S. up until half a century ago, hence the stereotypical humorous rhymes. Also, yes. In areas with a very high population of transient persons with habits of using illicit narcotics, combination locks and token fee systems are common. Off the top of my head I can think of Portland, Oregon as one place where an open-for-all-to-use restroom is the exception rather than the rule, but that's slowly shifting as the city moderates its affordable housing crisis.

I seem to recall, as a child, pay toilets (10 cents or so) in the subway when my dad would take into the City (New York City, that is) to his work. There was an unspoken agreement amongst all involved that one would hold the door open for the next person as a courtesy.

[Miller6582]

Not surprised they charge, quite the money maker at Edinburghs main station.

http://www.thenational.scot/news/160...tish_stations/

Plenty of pubs with toilets to use in the city and might as well have a wee pint when your in the pub too.

[Tobus]

Plenty of pubs with toilets to use in the city and might as well have a wee pint when your in the pub too.

That's the kind of toll I'm more than happy to pay!