Flashing lights pay off for transit agency

LOS ANGELES, May 14 (UPI) -- Los Angeles' public transit system has started a new phase in advertising by installing LED lights in the subway that play short videos as trains rush past.

Some passengers were surprised and even offended when they saw 15-second commercials playing outside the windows of their subway train as they passed through a tunnel Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"It's intrusive to me. If I want to see that, I'll turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper," actress Roberta Richey said.

City officials have said the ads are a good way for the transit agency to supplement a strapped budget and many passengers actually enjoy watching the LED lights whiz by to create the image of a moving video.

"We were, like, freaking out. We were saying 'What are they going to think of next?'" filmmaker Ray Mann said.