Gas Station Bathroom

I have been assigned a few gas stations that have McDonald's attached to them. The restrooms are controlled and maintained by McDonald's. I feel extremely uncomfortable trying to take photos of the restroom in a McDonalds. The last two times I have asked the McDonald's employee or manager and been denied once told me absolutely not there are children in there. Has anyone else experienced this and how do you handle it?

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Hmm, the couple of shops I did for that type of station specifically excluded the bathroom because McDonalds is responsible for maintaining them

Callinectes I thought the same thing the first time I did this shop. But the MSC told me that it would be considered part of the shop since gas station customers use it.

Just now I am thinking of such a location. I am a frequent fuel and pit stop customer there, and I am trying to find the kindest way to inform them that the stalls are less than half the size they need to be in order for people not to pretzel themselves on the way in and out of the facilities. Meanwhile, you need to be careful!!! The spaces are small, and the main, swinging door does not lock. In this location, you need to stand with your back against the door and risk being hit and pushed by the swinging door. Or,you could stand near the hinges of the door and risk having your body gouged by the hinges from the swinging door (if someone enters while you are taking images). If you stand outside the door and balance on one leg while holding the door open with the other leg, you will be in a walkway and people might think you are a pervert for taking pictures of a restroom. They might just jostle you if they are in a hurry or oblivious. If that happens, you will just fall on your unprintable and that would be a big ol' PITA. *sigh*

This is probably the worst case scenario. Hopefully, your location will be different and it will be easier for you to obtain images discreetly.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

I would close the door, hold it closed with the side of one foot at the opening corner, and get the photos while no one is in there.

And, hope and pray that someone does not push the door hard.

@lowcloud wrote:

I would close the door, hold it closed with the side of one foot at the opening corner, and get the photos while no one is in there.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

I've done many of these shops and I've never thought about it being a problem. I just take the pictures as normal and no one has ever said a word. I don't remember ever being told I did not need to do the restroom because it is maintained by McDonalds, or Sonic, or Churches

I always hold the door open with my foot unless it's not possible.I really don't care what anyone thinks. I dislike small spaces. If they tell you not to take photos of the bathroom just take a photo of the door and explain.

I never ask permission. I just take the photos like at any other station and have never had a problem. Maybe it helps I usually take the restroom photos before the reveal. (At least the men's room photos. ) If it were ever an issue, I would just snap a picture of the door or something and say I was denied access.

If it's a multi-stall, I just take a pic of the door and makes notes. If it's a single stall, what difference does it make who controls it? Walk in and take the pic.

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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Yeah, asking permission never works. Unless it's a revealed audit.

If possible, I would snap quick pictures of individual stalls and then the sink area when each is not in use. I guess that comes down to time of day. But you won't capture anything personal and should be able to get away without being noticed. Just act like you're taking selfies in the corner (overdo the duckface, peace signs, whatever). Be the selfie weirdo.

You might also check for a lock. Even multi-use bathrooms often have a lock on the inside. If not, then leaning back should work. You only need a quick second.

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