You’re in a strange city, and the call of nature beckons you in unfamiliar surrounds, what do you do?

While some cities provide ample public amenities, many don’t, such as New York City, and this is where Airpnp steps in, which, as the name may suggest, is an Airbnb Inc. style app for toilets, or as the more polite may prefer to call them: restrooms.

Similar to the way Airbnb lets you find accommodation (and it’s only a matter of time until they’re sued for the name) Airpnp allows you find local toilets in the area you’re in, and allows toilet owners to list their toilets for your use.

In the United Kingdom, and other Commonwealth countries, there’s the idiom to “spend a penny,” which reflects a time that many public toilets required you to spend (literally) a penny to use them, but in 2015 the toilets in the likes of Manhattan don’t come quite as cheap, with toilets being listed from a simple $1 through to even $5 per use.

Like Airbnb though, on Airpnp users are able to rate the toilets listed, so if you’re looking for the queen of crowns, or simply a quick stop where you’re happy simply that it’s clean, you can check out user ratings as well.

Toilet owners are able to set availability for when people can use their bathroom, are pinged through the app or SMS in real time and can decide who to let in. A toilet owner’s address isn’t made available until the customer (or client, or … what do you call someone who wants to use your toilet?) has already paid to access the bathroom, and toilet owners are able to leave reviews on the users of their facilities.

The backstory behind the app says that it was established by people in New Orleans who realized there was a bathroom shortage during Mardi Gras, and hence demand for party goers to be able to find amenities. And in the best spirit of capitalism, why not charge them for the right at the same time?

It’s hard to test if you’re not in a city covered; currently, the app primarily lists toilets in the United States, although there’s no restriction on foreign toilets being listed.

On one hand, the app is clearly at least in part tongue in cheek, but likewise its functionality as a utility for any traveler who has ever been caught short is very real.

The app is available from the Apple App Store, or alternatively data and bookings can be made from its website. There’s no word yet on whether an Android app may be forthcoming.

Image credit: Airpnp.