A dozen vespasiennes have been installed by the town hall in the neighborhood in recent weeks to improve cleanliness. An inconvenience for traders and residents.
Rue Turenne, rue Montebello: there are about ten of them, scattered around Place Gabriel-Péri. As part of an experiment, mobile urinals have been installed by the Lyon city hall in the La Guillotière district in recent days to improve cleanliness.
On the whole, the intention seems laudable in the eyes of the inhabitants. Many of them recently denounced a hygiene problem in the neighborhood. But the choice of locations leaves something to be desired.
“I’m not against it because, frankly, you see urine everywhere, underlines a passer-by at the microphone of BFM Lyon. Only, I find that it’s a little bit conspicuous. I think they could have put a plate, that we do not see the person, because there, there is a risk of exhibitionism now.” Another Lyonnaise regrets seeing another urinal installed “in the middle of the street”.
“They did not even ask the opinion of the traders”
Adel Maarouk, manager of a café, regrets not having been consulted. “I opened the curtain and I discovered the toilets in front of me, he plagues. They did not even ask the opinion of the traders.”
The vespasian took place in front of the window of her sign. For the comfort of his customers, he had to stick a screen film.
“I have a terrace here, a table here”, he shows. I had to close the curtain. That way, I don’t see people who are pissing.”
Scalable locations
The environmental municipality ensures for its part that the choice of locations was made in consultation and notes that these may have to evolve.
“We took the time to listen in our workshops, supports Grégory Doucet, the mayor of Lyon. It is a request that has come up. We meet this request by giving ourselves the possibility of moving the furniture if it needs being.”
And Mohamed Chihi, his deputy in charge of Safety and Tranquility, adds: “We can hear that the first installations were not suitable. We reacted immediately when it came to moving them. We We will continue to do so. There is no question for us of providing an answer to urination and bringing discomfort or even exhibition.”
For Grégory Doucet, the installation of the vespasiennes “is controversial among some who want to make controversy”. It is reminiscent of the outcry that followed the deployment of “uritrottoirs” in Paris in 2018.
“Toilets, not urinals”
Nathalie Balmat, president of the association “La Guillotière enrage”, confirms that the problem of “wild pee” has indeed been addressed during the nine workshops organized.
But “unanimously, we asked for toilets, not urinals, she wants to qualify. The object, in itself, is not fantastic. It excludes a lot of people: women, children. She adds: “Placed as it is, it’s hyper contemptuous for whoever is above, opposite or in the business next door”.
The town hall does not rule out replacing temporary urinals with closed public toilets accessible to women. A first must be set up on Place Raspail, another on the banks of the Rhône.
