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The plot thickens in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has decided to cancel a series of video campaigns that humorously urged passengers not to engage in unsanitary behavior on city buses.
Six videos, which had been available on YouTube and the department’s website, were taken down after officials stated they were never intended for public release. Visitors to the original links are now greeted with a message stating, “This channel doesn’t have any content.”
An LADOT spokesperson explained to CBS that the videos were mistakenly uploaded online. “The videos were not intended for website viewing and have been removed,” the spokesperson said.
The “See Something, Do Something” campaign was specifically designed for in-bus viewing, aiming to educate passengers on how to report inappropriate behavior or negative experiences during their commute.
The ”See Something, Do Something” campaign videos had reminded passengers to buy a ticket, don’t smoke, drink… or ”poop” on the bus.
It was housed on a standalone LADOT YouTube channel created last August and was not widely promoted across the agency’s other social media platforms.
How long the spots were running on buses remains unclear. Other videos in the series included a “no drinking” ad featuring an over-served character and a “pay your fare” message.
Passengers said the ad ran continuously on loop, turning already tiresome trips into an ordeal, as they were bombarded with a never-ending video about suitable bodily function and rule-breaking.
The campaign also urged riders to report misconduct ”immediately” and asked questions such as what route are you riding? What date and time did the incident occur? If you feel safe, record a description of the person.
LADOT’s own code of conduct underscores the kinds of problems transit officials say they face daily — a blunt rulebook banning everything from fighting, spitting and fare-dodging to harassment, weapons and disruptive behavior.
Bodily functions get special mention: defecating, urinating or vomiting on board — and even intoxication likely to cause it — can get riders kicked off or denied service altogether.
The California Post asked LADOT about the cost of the campaign, what prompted it and whether it has produced results before the videos were shelved.