There are plenty of free toilets in places like McDonald's in the US. However, those on drugs/alcohol, etc., sometimes do it in the street.

We have places where street people can go when it is cold and yet many of them refuse and choose to remain in the street. Many of these people are mentally ill but the law gives them the freedom to make choices for themselves. The law does not provide an easy solution when they make the wrong choices.

While sympathisizing with the problem of controlling out of it folks, i've rarely seen this in other countries to the extent in Paris (not much in other cities) and the UK for example to me has a lot more street people than even Paris...so i think it could be more culturally tolerated in Paris than in say London or Germany.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not personally on a crusade and i love the French - my son was born and grew up in France, he's half French and i love the culture. It's just sometimes in matters of restroom hygene it seems lacking. I've been in many middle class family households and the WCs often reek - of course they are separated from the bathroom - usually literally a Water Closet with just a toilet - they often don't clean them too well.
Oh well, j'aime Paris.

I for one am willing to put up with an occasional negligent dog owner to keep the dogs in restaurants, stores, etc. and the streets in Paris. I wish I could take my German shepherds to those places here in the U.S. and wheneven I'm in Paris, I love seeing the dogs in the cafes and restuarants (especially since I miss mine).

Artlover, me too. I was looking as scarves at Galerie Lafayett last month and almost stepped on the cutest little Maltese. It (don't know if he or she) as just laying quietly at it's mistresses feet while she shopped.

The problem with my dog would be, he would probably be jumping up on everyone and lifting his leg on the corners of all the display cases!!!! LOL No, he is NOT well behaved.

I would agree that restrooms leave a great deal to be desired once you get out of the US and Canada. It is not just a France problem. The problem is that many homes were built long before modern restrooms and you cannot just tear them down. Europeans often make do.

I had an elderly friend in Dijon many years ago who had plenty of money. She lived in an apartment where her private toilet was actually out of the apartment. Making do with old buildings is something Europeans are used to.

Having said that, controlling dogs is a lot easier than controlling people. And, Europe has come a long way (the self flushing toilets to replace the urinals are an example).

In the US toilets pretty much all work the same way. You look at one, you know where to push to flush. I remember many a time being stymied in a European toilet, where I had to look for a bit to discover the method. I do joke that in Europe no two toilets flush the same way.

And don't get me started on household appliances.