Just when Los Angeles’ beleaguered transit users thought they had encountered every possible issue, a new problem has emerged.
The city’s bus system, already criticized for being unreliable, unsafe, and plagued by drug users, is now facing a significant sanitation challenge.
The situation has deteriorated to the point where the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has initiated a video campaign urging passengers to refrain from using the bus as a restroom.
The “See Something, Do Something” campaign encourages riders to purchase tickets, avoid smoking and drinking, and importantly, to abstain from relieving themselves while on the bus.
While the campaign does not explicitly mention urination, it can be assumed that this is also prohibited.
Interestingly, the campaign is featured on a dedicated LADOT YouTube channel that was launched in August, but it has not been extensively promoted through the department’s other social media channels—an unusually subdued introduction for a campaign targeting the general public.
How long the spots have been running on buses remains unclear. Other videos in the series include a “no drinking” ad featuring an over-served character and a “pay your fare” message.
Passengers say the ad runs continuously on loop, turning already tiresome trips into an ordeal, as they are bombarded with a never-ending public service video about suitable bodily function and rule-breaking.
The campaign also urges riders to report misconduct ”immediately” and asks questions that sound more like a police intake form than a transit notice: 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.
While LADOT didn’t respond, The Post sought comment from Metro in a previous story examining safety and quality-of-life concerns on buses and trains across Los Angeles.Â
Metro is the regional agency covering all of L.A. County, managing major rail lines and bus routes, while LADOT is focused on the running local DASH buses, Commuter Express, and street services just in the city.
Metro says it has taken steps to improve safety, reporting that violent crime dropped about 8% in the first 11 months of 2025 compared with 2024 and roughly 30% compared with 2023.
The agency points to a major staffing surge, up about 40% in two years — along with tougher fare enforcement and a wave of security upgrades.
Those include more than 400,000 fare inspections, 100,000 train boardings, taller gates, added fencing, expanded camera coverage, Tap-to-Exit systems and pilot weapons-detection technology.
Metro also says customer satisfaction stands at 87% and encourages riders to report problems through its app, hotline or 911.
Still, Metro has been under sustained scrutiny over rider safety, enforcement and quality-of-life issues.
The blunt “See Something, Do Something” ads appear limited to LADOT vehicles and have not been rolled out across Metro’s system.
However, pooping on LA buses has been a serious enough issue in recent years for Instagram page, People Of Metro LA, to use it as a symbol highlighting issues in the city.
