The Los Angeles Metro sparked a social media frenzy on Thursday after unveiling “Ride the D” merchandise — a slogan with an unmistakable sexual double entendre.
The black “Ride the D Unisex Heavyweight T-Shirt” features the phrase “Ride the D” printed across the chest in white lettering, with the “D” styled inside a purple circle — a nod to the transit agency’s D Line branding.
The shirt, which retails for $21, is modeled on the product page by a young man wearing the black tee with light gray pants, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
In the product description, Metro touts the launch as tied to the rail expansion, writing: “It’s official! Section 1 of the D Line Extension is a historic moment bringing rail transit for the first time to this part of Wilshire Blvd.”
The listing urges customers to “Commemorate this Los Angeles transit milestone with this comfy and stylish Ride the D Unisex Heavyweight T-Shirt!” adding that “The unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt is made of 100% ring-spun cotton and will complement most looks.”
The page also notes the shirt is “made especially for you as soon as you place an order,” and lists features including “100% ring-spun cotton,” “Garment-dyed,” and a “Relaxed fit.”
When some users clicked the link to purchase the shirt on Metro’s official online store, they were met with an error page instead of a checkout screen, adding to the confusion surrounding the viral rollout.
The apparent glitch comes after Metro replied to at least one user on X that the shirts were “currently sold out,” even as the promotional post continued circulating widely online.
Social media users got a laugh out of the ad.
When one X user asked if the shirts were sold out, the official account of Metro Los Angeles replied: “Yes, shirts are currently sold out.”
“You mean the Purple Line ? 🤨” another user wrote.
“Nope, the D.” Metro shot back.
Metro later said that they expect to restock on the shirts.
“We encourage you to subscribe to the Metro Shop email list to be the first to know once they’re back. Thank you!” the agency said.
Other X users took the joke further.
“$1.75 to ride the D with strangers,” wrote user @TepuKhan.
“The problem is that y’all had performance anxiety and still haven’t even gotten it up yet,” another commenter posted.
“Nobody would like it if I rode the D,” quipped the verified account for The San Andreas Fault.
Another commenter quipped: “an asian guy model, with size S as default. i am offended!!! should have put the size as 4XL.”
“Congrats on extending your D line👏 I hope you see lots of Angelenos riding the D for pure enjoyment!” San Diego MTS wrote.
“It’s so much longer than I remember,” another user posted.
The California Post has sought comment from Metro Los Angeles.
The D Line — formerly known as the Purple Line — is Metro’s heavy-rail subway that runs beneath Wilshire Boulevard, one of Los Angeles’ busiest corridors.
Section 1 of the D Line Extension is scheduled to open May 8 — marking the first time rail service will extend farther west along Wilshire into this stretch of the city.
The expansion is designed to bring subway access deeper into the Miracle Mile and surrounding neighborhoods, with additional phases ultimately planned to push the line toward Beverly Hills and Westwood.
Planning for the Wilshire extension dates back more than a decade, with construction unfolding in phases as crews tunneled beneath dense urban areas, relocated utilities and built new underground stations.
Metro has touted the project as a historic milestone aimed at easing traffic congestion along Wilshire Boulevard and expanding rail access ahead of major international events set to come to Los Angeles later this decade.
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