A Tribune Special Report:...How The Low-Rider Urinal Rode Into The Rio Grande Valley of Texas...

By JUNIOR BONNER
Staff Writer

McALLEN, Texas - Okay, so, yeah, we spotted a few low ones at the Chase Bank on S. 10th Street here, and then again at the BBVA Compass at the corner of Nolana and N. 10th. But we hear low urinals in the Men's Room of public places are a common sight now.

So began The Tribune's latest investigation, really after we received this Email: "What's the deal with the low-rider urinals that are showing up everywhere? You'll find a row of regular urinals and then one set about a foot lower. In newer bathrooms, there is at least one set low even if there are only two urinals. I assume it's an ADA thing - urinals set at the normal height were discriminating against midgets or guys with extremely long penises. Often, the low one is the only one not in use so you have to use it and then you get piss splash all over your pants legs."

It's not that sort of conspiracy.

The low urinals are meant for use by kids. What would be a bit more interesting around here would be the arrival of French-style urinals for men (see photo above). That would be something, say, at El Rancho in Harlingen, or at Cobbleheads in Brownsville, or at Alhambra's here in town. A little practice never hurts, says this observer.

There you have it - one more mystery solved by The Tribune's crack reporting corps...

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