首个省级立法公布：公厕女性与男性厕位比提高到3:2

Core Viewpoint - The issue of long queues for women's restrooms has gained significant attention on social media, highlighting the need for gender-specific restroom facilities due to physiological differences and special circumstances faced by women [1][7]. Summary by Relevant Sections Legislative Developments - The "Gansu Province Women's Rights Protection Regulations" came into effect in August, mandating a restroom ratio of 3:2 for women to men in public toilets, and 2:1 in high-traffic areas, making Gansu the first province to legislate this ratio [1][9]. - The new regulations reflect a shift from soft recommendations to hard legal requirements, enhancing the enforcement of restroom standards [9][20]. Existing Standards and Practices - The "Urban Public Toilet Design Standards" implemented in December 2016 set a female-to-male restroom ratio of 3:2, with a recommendation of 2:1 for high-traffic areas [2]. - Various cities have established their own standards, with some allowing for a ratio of 1:2.5 or suggesting gender-neutral restrooms [2][3]. Current Challenges - Many existing public restrooms are designed with a 1:1 ratio, leading to longer wait times for women due to various factors such as design limitations and usage patterns [7][8]. - The enforcement of restroom standards is often weak due to the non-mandatory nature of existing guidelines, leading to inadequate facilities in practice [7][8]. Innovative Solutions - Some cities, like Shenzhen, are piloting "tide toilets" that can adjust the number of available stalls based on real-time demand, while others are using IoT technology to optimize restroom usage [13][20]. - The need for a structured management mechanism and financial support for restroom upgrades is emphasized to ensure compliance with new regulations [8][20]. Social Implications - The issue of restroom accessibility is tied to broader themes of gender equality and social rights, with inadequate facilities reflecting structural inequalities in public service provision [8][20]. - The Gansu regulations serve as a model for other regions, promoting the idea that women's restroom access is a fundamental right that should be guaranteed by law [20].