** Update: Good news, riders! We are adding more Thrones. As of this August, there are now 25 Thrones on the system; the new map is above. Recently added stations include TAtlantic (E Line); Slauson (J Line); Redondo Beach (K Line); Crenshaw (C Line), and Chatsworth (G Line). The next round of expansion will occur in October 2025.
We wanted to provide a quick update on our station restroom program. There are now a total of 14 Metro stations with Throne restrooms including these five recent additions:
–Little Tokyo/Arts District (A & E Lines)
–Highland Park (A Line)
–Harbor Freeway (C & J Lines)
–Soto (E Line)
–Downtown Santa Monica (E Line)
The map above also has a new shortlink. Wait for it…metro.net/restrooms.
As longtime Source readers know: the lack of public restrooms along transit systems in the U.S. (and quite frankly everywhere) has long been a rider complaint. That’s especially true on our rail and busway system, which covers 100+ miles and has some lengthy bus and rail trips.
The conundrum for many transit agencies is both funding restrooms and keeping them clean and safe. To accomplish both those goals, we launched our partnership with Throne Labs — a company that makes self-contained, portable restrooms — in fall 2023.
In the time since, Throne restrooms along the Metro system have been used more than 150,000 times. Rider sentiment has been good. Complaints have been few.
What to know:
•Throne units are portable, ADA accessible, touchless and free-to-use. Units include a flush toilet, a sink with running water, a robust ventilation system and sensors that let Throne know everything is working and when units need cleaning.
•Units are unlocked via mobile app, QR code or by sending an SMS text message with a smartphone or flip phone. Visual and audio instructions are provided.
•Throne use is limited to 10 minutes.
•Toilets are generally open 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. every day although exact hours vary by location.
In the summer of 2024, the Metro Board approved the expansion of the Throne bathrooms at up to 64 locations through 2028. This is part of our ongoing effort to improve bus and rail stations to make them cleaner, more pleasant to use and safer with improved lighting.
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Not everybody has a cell phone and some people such as mobility impaired or are disabled, may need more than 10 minutes to properly use the bathroom. Some people are uncomfortable using technology to access something as basic as a bathroom, i.e. you open the door, find an open stall, use the stall, wash your hands, dry your hands and leave. This is too onerous and would not want to use it; just make it simple!
Unfortunately, making it simple would fairly quickly have the restrooms monopolized by certain elements and fall into disrepair and eventual removal.
It’s 2025 – 98% of Americans have cell phones.
Kudos to Metro on this (so far).
I’m a rider and Ive tried these restrooms. Plenty of room inside to maneuver and surprisingly elegant. Very simple to use and most special needs people have cells for emergencies. Thank you Metro!
it’s a pilot program. so input like this will help the future designs.
Also Americans are not even close to being socially responsible to have universal, clean public restrooms like they have in Japan. I figure the smart phone requirement is a basic ID requirement to deter vandalism and illegal behavior. If it can be shown it can work without a full time attendant maybe that’s worth a try. But right now, I’m digging the cleaner state of this unsupervised bathroom.
You’re not considering the frequent misuse of these facilities. The safeguards are mandatory for keeping the units free from drug users and sleepers, of which there are many.
The new LAX Transit Center is definitely due for customer restrooms. Ever since the LAX City Bus Center was relocated in 2018/2019 due to the People Mover project, they closed off the Depot (LAX Shuttle), which had rider restrooms inside. The restroom trailers were marked “Staff Only” at the relocated transit center.
Hi –
The LAX/MTC will have restrooms built in!
Steve Hymon
The Source
*small restrooms. (I counted only one for men. It’s basically a single stall+1 urinal. 1 for women. 1 non-gender single room for families.) For a massive facility serving literally millions of passengers eventually, they went way cheap on the restrooms at LAX/MTC
I support G’s comment. Many people would effectively be locked out from using these restrooms with the smartphone requirements. Just provide restrooms!
Iam happy to see that metro is Find giving customers restrooms to use, especially if I need to call badly. Cause you don’t want, people ending up defecating on themselves or hearing on cell phone or on station platforms. When they got a girl, especially these little kids or adults or older adults, and they get the map, you see that metro’s finding doing this instead of just just how many having restrooms for security and employees only it’s about time.
Can you leave a train station, use the Throne and re-enter the station without being charged a second time?
Hi –
Our preference is to use Thrones before entering stations but in a pinch, yes. You may be asked by staff about leaving the station and returning — if so, please explain to staff.
Steve Hymon
The Source
Yes. Thank you. Was getting pissed-off getting pissed-on.
I wish there was a way to contact Throne directly. I needed to use the bathroom, but saw a non-passing trans woman get lead out of the bathrooms by security. She wasn’t impaired by any mind-altering substance or causing an actual issue, another woman just saw her enter and immediately spoke to security. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me, and decided to hold it until I could find a single-stall restroom.
I scanned the QR code for the throne & and netted properly. But it opened while I was as on the toilet. Passerby saw me with my pants down, and I had to hoist up my pants and scramble out to re-scan the QR code to finish my business.
It was horrifying and embarrassing. I’m lucky enough to have a home to go to, but had to spend time on the bus with urine on my underwear to get there.
Trans folks deal with enough harassment. Can we just have a safe place to pee? Port-a-potties with physical locks would be better than that horror show. I’m trying *not* to deal with jeering and catcalling on the way home.
I don’t know if this had anything to do with it, but there was a maintenance van outside the throne when I entered it. It had visibly been sanitized before I walked in. The ban left by the time I cleaned myself up. I don’t know if that had anything to do with the door opening well before the 10-minute time limit was up. But seriously, none of that was okay.
Hi Eli —
Sorry this happened. Here is Throne Lab’s contact for your questions: https://thronelabs.co/contact-us/
Thank you,
Steve Hymon
The Source
I used the service today, located at south Pasadena metro stop, and afterward I received a very unpleasant message accusing me of leaving the place smelling like smoke. I do not smoke and have never smoked. Besides, I have asthma and heart problems, so as you can see, I cannot even tolerate secondhand smoke. That message was offensive and accusatory. Please, before sending this type of message, make sure to get your information right before offending someone. I deserve an apology. Sincerely.
Hi Elvia —
Who did you receive the message from? Thank you for any info.
Steve Hymon
The Source