Overview
Commissioned by Michael & Son (via Go Fish Digital), this civic-minded project addressed a practical need for Washington, D.C. Metro riders: locating accessible restrooms across the region’s extensive subway network.
William Beeler developed an interactive, map-based web tool that helped commuters quickly find restroom facilities by station—balancing clarity, accessibility, and usability for everyday riders.
The resulting application combined thoughtful UX design with data visualization to create a resource that was both highly functional and widely recognized by local commuters and media outlets.
Contributions
Interactive Mapping Experience
William built a fully interactive Mapbox.js-powered map representing the entire WMATA Metro system. Each line was color-coded to its official Metro route for intuitive recognition, while station pins displayed restroom information, photos, and accessibility notes pulled dynamically from structured JSON data.
Accessibility and User Experience Design
Usability and inclusivity were central to the project. William implemented custom toilet-icon markers for immediate visual clarity and introduced a five-star “Ease of Access” rating system to help users plan routes based on facility quality and accessibility.
Data-Driven Content Integration
All location data, photos, and station metadata were maintained in structured JSON, allowing easy updates and expansion of the dataset. Pop-ups with real-time content created a smooth, app-like experience within the browser.
Community Engagement and Visibility
To amplify reach and encourage community contributions, William integrated social-sharing functionality, allowing users to share station links directly across social platforms. The project quickly gained traction online, being featured on DCist, Reddit, and local news outlets.
Technical Stack
Mapbox.js, JavaScript (ES6), jQuery, HTML5, CSS3, JSON, Adobe Illustrator (for custom map overlays and iconography)
Results
The DC Metro Bathroom Accessibility Map became a viral civic resource, helping thousands of commuters locate restroom facilities across the Metro system.
It not only showcased Michael & Son’s commitment to community engagement but also demonstrated how thoughtful UX design and data visualization can solve real-world urban challenges.
Public response was overwhelmingly positive, with users describing the tool as “surprisingly slick,” “genuinely useful,” and “a bang-up job for a glorified potty map.”
The project remains a standout example of how practical design, accessibility awareness, and creative front-end engineering can intersect to produce lasting social impact.