Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

This “Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle” is a review of the shower facility at the Pilot Travel Center in Carlisle, PA, USA, based upon our own expectations of what a shower facility that caters to professional truck drivers of commercial motor vehicles should be like, our own preferences (especially in comparison to a home bathroom), and our observations.

Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

Date: 4/23/2010

Location: Pilot Travel Center, Carlisle, PA, I-81, exit 51

Overall Facility: Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

Showers assigned automatically via kiosk
Keyless entry via keypad (code on printout from kiosk)
Able to get more towels from attendant
Shower number being called can be heard in store and seen via display
Shower is free with minimum 50 gallon purchase of fuel from a Pilot Travel Center anywhere in the nation within the last 5 days.

Shower #2

Pros: Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

Shower supplies included a paper bathmat and small packets of soap
Plenty of counter space at sink
Fan worked well
Mirror was well positioned on wall behind sink for both short and tall drivers
Water pressure from sink was good
Electrical outlets worked well
Shower could be turned on and temperature selected without getting wet
Water pressure in shower was good
Showerhead delivered water in a good spray
Door restrictor worked well
Towels were thick and thirsty, like beach towels
Washcloths were sufficiently thick
Toilet flushed well
No problems with the mirror fogging
Built-in seat was large enough for an oversized shower bag to rest on

Cons: Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

Shower’s cleanliness is in doubt because the toilet was definitely not cleaned prior to our arrival. There were fecal marks in the bowl from a previous user that were not even flushed away by the janitor. One flush from us was all it took to swirl them away. If the bowl wasn’t cleaned, how can we be assured that the seat was cleaned? This is a problem.
Fan’s position on wall was not facing the shower stall. It was right in the way of a tall driver’s ability to lean over the sink, given the small amount of standing room between the built-in seat and the shower stall. This can be dangerous.
Showerhead was too high (inches from shower stall’s ceiling) for a short driver to position.
Shower water temperature was not consistent; got significantly warmer whenever someone flushed a toilet
Shower water pressure was not consistent; pressure lowered slightly whenever someone flushed a toilet
The wall tiles in the shower stall showed significant amounts of grout either missing or discolored due to mold/mildew.
The floor tiles were discolored, too; we guess that the discoloration was due to bleach or other strong chemicals being sprayed on but not rinsed.
Built-in seat was too close to the sink.
The grout/caulking in the corners of the sink had started to mold/mildew or go missing
Toilet paper dispenser was too low on the wall for a tall or oversized customer to easily access
Toilet paper dispenser and toilet were installed too close to each other for an oversized customer to sit on the toilet with comfort.

Notes: Shower Review Pilot Pennsylvania Carlisle

While there were towel hooks on the wall, they were opposite the shower stall over the built-in seat; however, towels could be easily accessed from the stall if set on the counter near the sink.
We wanted to speak with a manager about the failure of the janitorial staff to clean the toilet — to insure that in the future toilets are cleaned after every user — but there was a long line of customers waiting to be served at the registers.
We came into the building for a shower at about 11:05 a.m. and had no waiting for a shower. There were showers available. Our number being called was “Shower Customer 53” and while we were there, the last shower assignment announcement we heard was “Shower Customer 62.” So this facility was busy today.