Gov't eyes emergency toilets, water in elevators after quake

The water is definitely a good idea, and while the idea of someone or some people using the toilet in a packed, trapped elevator is not a pleasing thought, I suppose it's a practical one, and better than the person going to the bathroom without one. Still more unpleasant to think about is being stuck in an elevator at all -- and if it WERE for the big one... the potential for being trapped in an elevator for a LONG period of time is quite high. Sigh.

toilet in elevators!?!?! how about thinking for elevator emergency exits instead? the water is indeed a good idea.

only 14 elevators were stuck so why the need to place water and toilets in all the elevators? my biggest concern is where are they going to put these items? elevators in tokyo are jammed pack at certain times. it just seems like a waste of time, money and space.

Couldn't they just trigger a sensor and test them to make sure it stops and opens? Seems a lot cheaper unless someone's getting their palms greased. Nice midnight shift job.

I'm with most here. Seems like a cheaper and more rational approach (albeit a more expensive one) would be to upgrade the machinery/software in those 14 elevators that failed to stop so that they'll open up on actual floors, rather than packing water rations and portable toilets into 20,000 elevators across the Tokyo metro area.

I have better idea that costs far less: Add emergency hatches to elevator so that people can climb out in case of emergency! The solution is so easy but as always authorities are clueless and start doing to wrong thing.

If 2 hours then neither water nor toilets will be necessary.

If 2 days, toilets will be the least of your worries.

People will make do without a new huge public expense.

According to an NHK articles I was reading there is already a 2009 law that allows for automatic stop at the next floor in the case of shaking above a certain magnitude, which may explain why only 14 passengers were stuck. Agree about the toilet idea being premature. Finish installation of these safety mechanisms and then evaluate further, such as which ones engineers are going to be needed to professionally restart.

Lets waste more money YAY! Hail to the thief.

My age leaves me less shy and more time-oriented. Would it be possible to use them even in the absence of a disaster? People may look askance, but think of the time savings....

Going hiking gives you an idea

Portable toilets on famous hikes. Carry your own stuff down the walk.

Means a tent for privacy and some plastics to carry. About the smell, well its an emergengy.

I have been using stairs for quite some time now.

A cardboard box as a toilet in an elevator... what an interesting concept. Considering that most people enter and leave an elevator as total strangers, this would certainly provide the opportunity for people to get to know their fellow travellers a little better. At the same time it would also create business opportunities. For example a book entiled "The Dietary Guide for Regular Elevator Users".

When the "big one" hits Tokyo I think the least of my problems will be being stuck in a lift. I'll take that over being cruched by tons of concrete anytime.

Water in an elevator would become a old, stale and dirty. This is Japan-they don't do their jobs right. Upgrading Elevators to be viable emergency exits should have done five years ago.

If 20 000 elevators stopped and only 14 of them did so between floors then the system works satisfactory, a better error margin is unfeasible.

They better put some air freshner in there too, you know what its like after a big night on the Suntory Malts! And a magazine rack too.

Chemical toilets could be the answer in emergency. when you have no other choice it is better than nothing believe me..and thousands of people who have been that situation.

I can understand thought behind this, but chemical toilets in every elevator? Seriously? How about just some adult diapers behind a panel... since this is situation that everybody wants to avoid, that would as good as last resort option as the toilet solution, and much cheaper.