A GUIDE FOR PUBLIC TOILETS FOR CYCLING ROUTES AND CYCLE PATHS

What role do public toilets play in active travel?

A cycling route is more than just the path itself. It also includes the infrastructure that make it accessible, functional and enjoyable over time. Rest areas, visitor information points, drinking water fountains, charging stations and public toilets all contribute to making a route genuinely usable.

Public toilets are particularly important for people making long-distance journeys, families travelling with children, older people and users with specific accessibility needs. They also play an important role in everyday mobility, especially near railway stations, parks and peri-urban cycling routes.

A well-distributed service network encourages longer visits and strengthens the connection between cycling routes, urban areas, welcome facilities and points of interest along the way.

EuroVelo is the European network of long-distance cycling routes developed by the European Cyclists’ Federation. It connects routes across the continent and provides a valuable reference even for the planning of national and regional cycling networks, by setting out shared principles for infrastructure, services, management and the overall visitor experience. The EuroVelo Development Guide can therefore serve as a useful framework for planning cycling routes as integrated systems, ensuring that the route and the services supporting it are considered together rather than as separate elements.

Read the EuroVelo Development Guide

Where should public toilets be installed along a cycling route?

The location of public toilets should be determined by analysing visitor flows and identifying the places where people naturally stop along the route. The most suitable locations generally include:

• Rest areas and scenic viewpoints;
• Park-and-ride facilities and railway stations;
• Visitor centres and information points;
• Parks, picnic areas and bike hire stations;
• Active travel hubs.

Whenever possible, public toilets should be integrated with other services. Bringing several functions together increases the usefulness of the area, simplifies maintenance and contributes to a greater sense of safety.

There is no single distance between public toilets that is suitable for every cycling route. The appropriate spacing depends on the length of each section, expected visitor numbers, route difficulty, the proximity of urban areas and the availability of existing services.

Before installing new facilities, it is therefore advisable to assess whether museums, railway stations, sports centres, public buildings or visitor facilities already contribute to the network of available services.

The EuroVelo guidance on rest areas also recommends concentrating multiple services at strategic locations, with facilities designed according to the importance of each site and the characteristics of the route.

How to design an active travel hub?

In the busiest locations, rest areas can be developed into true active travel hubs, bringing together multiple services within a single, easily identifiable space.

Alongside public toilets, these hubs can include drinking water fountains, cycle parking, covered shelters, e-bike charging stations, bicycle repair stations, lockers, picnic tables, seats and recycling facilities.

Maps, information panels and Qr Codes can provide details about the route, public transport connections and places of interest along the way.

The design of the hub can also enhance safety by providing well-defined access points and adequate lighting, while arranging the various facilities to avoid hidden or poorly supervised areas. Depending on the location and the needs of local authorities, the project may also include CCTV systems, access control and emergency call points.

The modular structures developed by Prefabbricati Santerno make it possible to integrate public toilets, cycle shelters, visitor information points, kiosks and technical rooms within a single project, with the flexibility to expand the facilities over time.

Watch the video about Prefabbricati Santerno’s integrated modular structures

Which type of public toilets should you choose?

Choosing the most suitable type of public toilet depends primarily on the availability of water, electricity and sewer connections, the expected level of use, the frequency of maintenance operations and the ease with which the site can be accessed for servicing.

Regardless of the solution adopted, the facility should provide accessibility, hygiene, privacy and safety, together with effective ventilation, adequate lighting and durable materials capable of withstanding intensive use.

Three main design scenarios can be identified.

Case 1: installation within existing buildings

When visitor centres, information points or other service buildings are already available along the route, an indoor self-cleaning toilet can be integrated into the existing structure, avoiding the need for additional buildings.

One example is the SANO2 project in the Menotre Valley, within the Municipality of Foligno. The self-cleaning public toilets were installed inside buildings developed as part of a wider landscape enhancement project, where visitor facilities, information points and other services support people along the route. The project demonstrates how automation can enhance existing facilities, ensuring consistently high hygiene standards and accessibility without introducing new structures into the natural landscape.

Discover the SANO2 project in Foligno

Case 2: A freestanding unit where utility connections are available

When utility connections are available but no suitable buildings exist, a freestanding precast unit can be manufactured off-site and installed directly in its final location, reducing on-site construction works.

The unit can include one or more public toilet cubicles together with storage areas, technical rooms and visitor information facilities.

The installation delivered by SANO2PAQUET in Dijion, along the Alice Milliat Promenade on the shores of Lake Kir, combines a public toilet with a dedicated cycle service station, creating a single service hub for park visitors and active travel users.

Discover the SANO2PAQUET project in Dijion

Case 3: Autonomous solutions where utility connections are unavailable

In remote natural areas or locations far from the urban centres, connecting to public utilities may be either impractical or too expensive. In these cases, autonomous public toilets can provide an effective solution, independently managing water supply, energy and wastewater without relying on public utility networks.

In any case, the most appropriate solution should be selected according to the required level of autonomy, the expected number of users, the frequency of emptying operations and the accessibility of the site for maintenance personnel.

When utility connections are available and visitor numbers are high, a self-cleaning toilet connected to the mains generally provides greater continuity of service. Autonomous systems are more suitable where connecting to public utilities would require disproportioned infrastructure works or have an excessive impact on the surrounding area.

How can public toilets be integrated into natural or urban environments?

A public toilet installed along a cycling route is also an architectural feature. Its materials, colours, proportions and external appearance should therefore be carefully integrated into the surrounding environment.

In natural settings it is essential to minimise visual impact and ensure that the facility blends harmoniously with the landscape, surrounding vegetation, pathways and rest areas. To meet these requirements, SANO2 developed the SELM design, characterised by an essential language and a high degree of customisation.

Discover the SELM design

In urban environments, public toilets become part of the wider public realm, interacting with squares, cycle paths, car parks and street furniture. The LONDON design offers a contemporary, distinctive and highly customisable appearance through a choice of materials, colours and configurations.

Discover the LONDON design self-cleaning public toilets.

How can management be simplified and long-term costs reduced?

Along a cycling route, particularly in remote locations, every maintenance intervention requires staff, travel time and careful planning. For this reason, operational efficiency should be considered from the earliest stages of the design process.

Self-cleaning public toilets automatically wash, disinfect and dry the toilet after each use, maintaining consistently high hygiene standards even during periods of heavy use.

Remote monitoring makes it possible to check the status of each toilet, the number of users, consumable levels and any faults in real time, allowing maintenance operations to be scheduled according to actual requirements.

Durable materials, easy- to – clean surfaces, vandal-resistant components and facilities designed for easy maintenance help to reduce wear and tear while making technical operations quicker and more efficient.

The risk of vandalism can also be reduced through good design choices: clearly visible locations, adequate lighting, well-supervised access points and robust components help discourage misuse while enabling maintenance teams to respond quickly when intervention is required.

How much does a public toilet for a cycling route cost?

The cost of installing a public toilet along a cycling route depends on several factors, including the availability of utility connections, the extent of works required, the type of structure, the number of units, the level of automation, ground conditions and degree of customisation.

However, the financial assessment should not be limited to the initial purchase cost. A solution with a lower upfront cost may require more staff, more frequent maintenance interventions and higher long-term expenditure on servicing and repairs.

To estimate the overall investment accurately, it is important to consider the facility’s whole-life cost, including purchase, utility consumption, maintenance, service life and operational continuity.

Do you need support in designing public toilets for a cycling route or cycle path?

Every cycling route has its own characteristics and requires a preliminary assessment of the available utility infrastructure, expected visitor number and operational requirements.

SANO2 supports public authorities, designers and infrastructure managers in developing self-cleaning public toilets, precast modules and autonomous systems.

Contact us or complete the form below. We will assess together the characteristics of your route, the availability of utility connections, expected visitor numbers and management requirements to help you identify the most suitable solution for your project.