METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

San Francisco pilots 'pee-repellent' paint to stop public urination

Nine city walls feature the special paint, which sprays urine right back onto the shoes and pants of unsuspecting relief-seekers.

July 28, 2015
San Francisco pilots 'pee-repellent' paint to stop public urination

Signage posted on the walls with the urine-repellant paint. Courtesy San Francisco Public Works

1 min to read


Signage posted on the walls with the urine-repellant paint. Courtesy San Francisco Public Works

SAN FRANCISCO — Public Works crews have finished painting nine city walls with pee-repellent paint, which sprays urine right back onto the shoes and pants of unsuspecting relief-seekers, SFGate reported.

Paint and installation, which costs a couple hundred dollars for each wall, proved to be effective in Germany where it was applied to walls in Hamburg’s St. Pauli quarter, where beer drinkers often can’t be bothered to find a bathroom, according to the report. 

Ad Loading...

Public urination has long been a problem in San Francisco. Legislation banning it in 2002 but has seen little success, despite a $50-to-$500 fine, SFGate reported. Since January, there have been 375 requests to steam clean urine. For the full story, click here.

Check out this TED Talk video of Mark Shaw demoing Ultra-Ever Dry, the paint used by San Francisco's Public Works department. It is a liquid-repellent coating that acts as a shield against water and water-based materials. At the nano level, the spray covers a surface with an umbrella of air so that water bounces right off. 

More Management

Nadine S. Lee
Managementby StaffMarch 26, 2026

DART's President/CEO Announces Departure from Agency

Nadine S. Lee, who has served as president/CEO since July 2021, said the decision comes after careful reflection on the agency’s progress and its path forward.

Read More →
An NJ TRANSIT railcar at a station
Managementby StaffMarch 26, 2026

New Executive Order Targets Better Rider Experience on NJ TRANSIT

The Executive Order has two parts. Within 45 days from signing, the Commissioner of Transportation, in her capacity as Chair of the NJ TRANSIT board, will develop and send to the Governor a comprehensive plan to improve riders’ experiences. 

Read More →
A KCATA bus
Managementby StaffMarch 26, 2026

KCATA Taps KL2 Connects to Lead President/CEO Search

The KCATA board will remain actively engaged throughout the search process to ensure the selection of a highly qualified leader who will advance the agency’s commitment to serving the Kansas City region, the agency said.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cover photo for Guiding Star mentorship program
Managementby StaffMarch 24, 2026

STAR Transit, ITLC Team Up on Workforce Mentorship Initiative

The Guiding Star Mentor Program connects experienced operators with new employees to support onboarding, retention, and long-term career growth.

Read More →
A TTC subway station.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 24, 2026

TTC Launches Five Research Projects to Drive Transit Innovation

In collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University, five new projects aim to improve TTC operations, infrastructure, and rider experience.

Read More →
Denver RTD non-English speaking pins.
Managementby StaffMarch 23, 2026

RTD Launches Multilingual 'I Speak' Buttons, QR Decals to Expand Rider Language Access

RTD is distributing 1,500 buttons in Spanish, Amharic, French, Arabic, Oromo, Swahili, Italian, Nepali, German, Hindi, Farsi, and American Sign Language. Employees can volunteer to wear them on their shirts, hats, lanyards, or other visible items, in accordance with uniform standards. 

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffMarch 19, 2026

People Movement: The Latest from TARTA, STV, and More

METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.

Read More →
A BART railcar
Managementby StaffMarch 19, 2026

BART Monetizes Empty Parking With New Online Leasing Tool

BART began offering select parking lots to non-BART riders to generate new revenue to help address its FY27 $376M operating budget deficit brought on by remote work.

Read More →
MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber sits with a customer service employee and takes calls.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 19, 2026

Transit Agencies Nationwide Celebrate 2026 National Transit Employee Appreciation Day

Agencies across the U.S. honored transit workers on March 18, recognizing the essential roles they play in keeping communities moving daily.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cover for METROspectives with Inez Evans Benson
ManagementMarch 18, 2026

Inez Evans-Benson on Leadership and the Future of Transportation

Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.

Read More →