Two young designers have developed a new women's urinal, the Peequal, which they claim can reduce queue times by up to 75%. Research by the designers indicates that women in the UK spend 34 times longer queuing for public toilets than men, partly due to an average of 10 male urinals for every ladies' toilet.
The Peequal, created by University of Bristol graduates Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane, features a wedge design that allows six women to urinate simultaneously in a circle. The designers say it is six times quicker to use than a conventional portable toilet. The unit is hands-free, with a pedestal designed to minimise splashback and a space for clothing.
Privacy is provided from the waist down, with the upper body visible above the partition. The modules come flatpacked and are made from 100% recycled material. A prototype was installed at the Bristol Comedy Garden last week, marking the first public use of the design.
Probyn and McShane, who spent summers working at music festivals, identified the need for a solution to long queues. “After a few bevs, and after you’ve waited in the queue for about 15 minutes already, this option suddenly becomes much more appealing,” Probyn said.
