Restroom confusion at a bar

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Last night I was at a bar/restaurant I'd never been to before with a group. At one point I had to use the restroom facilities. Just past the bar was a door marked "RESTROOMS", with the generic man/woman/handicapped symbols on it. It had a doorknob. I tried pushing on the door as often they are just on springs and there is no need to use the knob. No go. I turned the handle and pushed, no success.

I stepped back for a moment, then thought it might be one of those doors that sticks so I tried the knob and pushing at the same time. It still did not open. At this time I knew I was visible to the group and getting a little embarassed. I had previously had to go when leaving the hotel and those restrooms were locked as well. I hate that.

I started to walk back to the group to figure out what to do. Suddenly the door opened and one of our group came out and said "OK, you can go in now." with an indecipherable look. When I passed through the door, I found it was just a simple single stall room.

Now here's why I got pissed off... The sign said "RESTROOMS", implying more than one. I thought it was maybe a screening door leading to a hallway for separate men's and women's rooms. Who puts a toilet just off the bar? How are you supposed to know anyone is in there? I could not hear if anyone was inside as the bar was too noisy. And who puts a locking mechanism on a restroom in a bar?

There were just so many things that were frustrating about this incident.

(Thread moved from Autism discussion to Random)

Anyone would have done the same. It is awkward as you look silly/risk losing your place if you sit down again, but look silly if you are just stood waiting and the person inside feels awkward too.
I hate toilets in bars, I don't like wandering round searching for them and people give you funny looks. I often ask someone in my party where it is or watch to see where other people go.

Yeah there is this mcdonalds bathroom that has the urinal and door just angeled good enough, that at a certain point when you open the door(someone opens while you are standing there) you can look to your right and see people eating. Just a sliver of people thought not the whole piece.

Yes, the literal Autistic mind takes the sign for its worth. I'm sure many of us would have felt/done the same. Life is strange sometimes.

I usually knock at a closed door, and it often turns out to be an access door rather than a door to a private area. People look at me funny when I do that, but I when I do something odd, I act as if that is the normal thing to do.

I don't know why it was plural, that was probably either the only sign they had, or the only version they had that was affordable to whoever bought and put it up. It does sound like it meant that it went to restroomS not A restroom. Lots of people probably do that. The person who came out of it may have done that as well.

I hate going into one of those single bathrooms like that when I'm going to be in there for a few minutes, and someone knocks on the door or tries to open it. Then I feel rushed and it's more difficult to finish what I'm doing.


Frances

Sometimes urinals here in France aren't even screened off. I've seen several urinals on outside walls of public buildings where any passing members of the public (women and children) can see the men whip out their todger and have a pee! However, men here don't generally seem to be self conscious about the issue. It isn't uncommon to see French men peeing up trees or bushes in the streets like dogs! Seems to be a cultural difference. What would be scandalous or even illegal in one country isn't even an issue in another.

Knock and ask if anyone is in there.

That's what I would do.

Side note- bathrooms probably aren't the best place to be anyways.