Public restrooms in cafes and restaurants often require access codes shared only with paying customers, creating barriers for travelers, delivery workers, parents with children, and people with medical needs. While toilet-finding apps exist, none address the crucial hurdle: how to actually enter these locked facilities.

The Core Idea

A mobile app could crowdsource restroom codes through community contributions, creating searchable access to locked facilities. When visiting a cafe, a user could:

1. Open the app to nearby listings
2. Find the entry code for that location
3. Optionally rate the restroom or verify if the code still works

The system would rely on regular users updating codes when they change, with incentives including community reciprocity and potential premium features. An upvote/downvote system could help maintain accuracy.

How It Stands Out

Unlike existing toilet finders that simply map locations, this approach solves the access problem. Compared to apps sharing WiFi passwords:

• Restroom access is often more urgently needed
• Codes change less frequently than WiFi passwords
• There's greater willingness for community cooperation

Early versions could focus on chains with consistent policies (like Starbucks) before expanding to independent businesses.

Implementation Path

Starting simple would help validate the concept while managing risks:

1. Basic mobile app showing nearby locations with crowd-submitted codes
2. Add verification features as participation grows
3. Explore partnerships with businesses that want to appear as "restroom-friendly"

Initial testing could use web forms to gauge contribution willingness before full app development.

While businesses changing codes presents challenges, the network effects of many contributors could keep the database fresh - similar to how community apps like Waze maintain real-time traffic data.