The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has decided to pull a video campaign that aimed to discourage passengers from using city buses as restrooms.
They deleted six videos from YouTube and their official site, stating that these clips were never meant to be public. A message on the original link claims, “This channel has no content.”
A spokesperson from LADOT mentioned to CBS that the video was taken down because it wasn’t intended for online viewing. Instead, the “See Something, Do Something” video was meant to be shown on buses, helping passengers learn how to report “inappropriate” behavior or unpleasant experiences.
The campaign featured reminders about not buying tickets, consuming alcohol, smoking, or, well, using the bus for bodily functions.
This video was uploaded on an independent LADOT YouTube channel created last August and didn’t receive much promotion across the agency’s broader social media outlets.
It remains unclear how long this video aired on buses. Other clips in the series included messages like “No Drinking,” showcasing a character who overindulged, and reminders to “Pay Your Fee.”
Some passengers reported feeling overwhelmed by the repetitive nature of the ads, which continuously played messages about acceptable behavior, turning an otherwise uneventful ride into something rather irritating.
The campaign encouraged riders to report misconduct as soon as possible, asking for details like the bus route, date, and time of the incident. If they felt comfortable, they could also provide descriptions of those involved.
LADOT’s code of conduct outlines the issues transit officials encounter daily, clearly prohibiting everything from fighting and fare evasion to harassment and other disruptive actions.
Notably, bodily functions such as defecating, urinating, or vomiting, as well as being intoxicated, can lead to passengers being removed from the bus or denied service altogether.
Before the video was shelved, the California Post inquired about the campaign’s costs, motivations, and whether it had any impact.
