This story has been updated with additional information.
People in Michigan used Throne portable full-service bathrooms nearly 17,000 times in July, Detroit and Royal Oak’s first month piloting the toilets that Ann Arbor has had for over a year.
Throne Labs, the D.C.-based company that provides and maintains the bathrooms, has eight locations in Ann Arbor, two in Detroit and two in Royal Oak. Thrones are locked until someone accesses the bathroom using a phone, with non-phone passes available in some locations. Throne collects data on how often the bathroom is used and asks phone users exiting the toilet to fill out a survey on its cleanliness.
The majority of survey respondents found the toilets to be relatively clean.
Throne shared what it found with the Detroit Free Press. Here are the numbers by city:
Royal Oak
Royal Oak started a six-month pilot program on July 1. In that time, the three units in Royal Oak have seen 3,328 uses, according to data provided by Throne.
With the Royal Oak Taco Fest taking place on July 5, Royal Oak’s Centennial Commons Throne was the most used Throne in the country on July 5, said Kevin Yee, director of the Department of Public Service and Recreation for the City of Royal Oak.
In July, the toilets had a user return rate of 25.7% and an overall user cleanliness rating of 4.09 out of 5, according to data provided by Throne.
Yee said the city will continue to evaluate usage throughout the trial period. So far, almost all the feedback he’s heard has been positive, especially from families needing somewhere for their kids to use the bathroom while out and about in Royal Oak, he said.
Detroit
Detroit started a one-month pilot program with two Thrones in Cadillac Square on July 10. During July, the toilets saw 2,793 total uses, according to data provided by Throne.
Its highest use day was July 25, with 125 uses in one Throne and 102 uses in the other. During July, Detroit had a user return rate of 27.5% and a cleanliness rating of 4.52 out of 5.
Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson said one Throne has been removed from Cadillac Square for the end of the trial and one remains as of Aug. 13 but will soon be removed. The group and its partners will analyze Throne data and feedback before deciding whether or not to bring Thrones to Detroit long term, Larson said.
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor saw 10,437 uses of its eight Thrones during July, according to data provided by Throne. Its highest use day was July 18, during the Ann Arbor Art Fair, with 947 uses. It received a 4.15 out of 5 cleanliness user rating and a 24.1% user return rate.
Throne spokesperson Evie Smith Hatmaker said Detroit and Ann Arbor’s numbers reflect what the company sees in other markets around the country.
Yee said the city will continue to evaluate usage throughout the trial period and that almost all the feedback he’s heard has been positive, especially from families needing somewhere for their kids to use the bathroom while out and about.
“We’ve been happy with it,” Yee said.
Detroit
Detroit started a one-month pilot program with two Thrones in Cadillac Square on July 10. During July, the toilets saw 2,793 total uses, according to data provided by Throne.
Its highest use day was July 25, with 125 uses in one Throne and 102 uses in the other. During July, Detroit had a user return rate of 27.5% and a cleanliness rating of 4.52 out of 5.
Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson said one Throne has been removed from Cadillac Square for the end of the trial and one remains as of Aug. 13 but will soon be removed. The group and its partners will analyze Throne data and feedback before deciding whether or not to bring Thrones to Detroit long term, Larson said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How many people used Throne public toilets in July?
Reporting by Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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