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Pothole protests promise bumpy ride for officials as campaigners get creative Pothole protests promise bumpy ride for officials as campaigners get creative
(14 days later)
It is not always easy to get politicians to pay attention to everyday complaints, especially when the subject is as mundane as bumpy roads. However, disgruntled citizens in Raipur, India, have found a novel way to highlight the problem: they are holding mock religious ceremonies to name the city's biggest potholes after prominent officials.It is not always easy to get politicians to pay attention to everyday complaints, especially when the subject is as mundane as bumpy roads. However, disgruntled citizens in Raipur, India, have found a novel way to highlight the problem: they are holding mock religious ceremonies to name the city's biggest potholes after prominent officials.
Crumbling roads have triggered offbeat protests around the world, with fed-up citizens in Uganda opting to sell fish from water-filled holes and activists in Russia daubing neon paint around more than 100 cavities.Crumbling roads have triggered offbeat protests around the world, with fed-up citizens in Uganda opting to sell fish from water-filled holes and activists in Russia daubing neon paint around more than 100 cavities.
Calendar girlsCalendar girls
The people of the tiny town of Leader in Saskatchewan decided to take a Calendar Girls approach to their pothole problem. In 2006, a dozen locals (11 men and one woman) posed nude in potholes along a local stretch of Canada's Highway 32, then created a calendar of the images to spread their message. Organiser Gordon Stueck told CBC: "We got the publicity we wanted … We sold 3,000 calendars all over the world." Four years later, the pockmarked highway had been repaired.The people of the tiny town of Leader in Saskatchewan decided to take a Calendar Girls approach to their pothole problem. In 2006, a dozen locals (11 men and one woman) posed nude in potholes along a local stretch of Canada's Highway 32, then created a calendar of the images to spread their message. Organiser Gordon Stueck told CBC: "We got the publicity we wanted … We sold 3,000 calendars all over the world." Four years later, the pockmarked highway had been repaired.
Caricaturing to accountCaricaturing to account
Street artists in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, turned some of their local potholes into caricatures of the local mayor, governor, and city administrator, complete with quotes from the leaders about the importance of good roads.Street artists in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, turned some of their local potholes into caricatures of the local mayor, governor, and city administrator, complete with quotes from the leaders about the importance of good roads.
Fishing for actionFishing for action
Frustrated citizens of Kampala, Uganda, declared 8 June National Pothole Day, marking the occasion by pretending to go fishing in some of the capital's biggest road gashes – to the amusement of passersby. "We are calling upon the powers to solve this mess," one protester, Godfrey Birimumaaso, told the BBC.Frustrated citizens of Kampala, Uganda, declared 8 June National Pothole Day, marking the occasion by pretending to go fishing in some of the capital's biggest road gashes – to the amusement of passersby. "We are calling upon the powers to solve this mess," one protester, Godfrey Birimumaaso, told the BBC.
Flower powerFlower power
And then there's the floral approach. Steve Wheen, the Banksy of guerrilla gardening, enjoys turning local pockmarks into mini flowerbeds. His creations are more art than activism, but the London-based pothole gardener wants to get a message across with his work. "My gardens are a way of turning something pretty crappy, like a pothole, into something a little bit happier and getting people to question the environment they live in and how they can change it," he told the Guardian.And then there's the floral approach. Steve Wheen, the Banksy of guerrilla gardening, enjoys turning local pockmarks into mini flowerbeds. His creations are more art than activism, but the London-based pothole gardener wants to get a message across with his work. "My gardens are a way of turning something pretty crappy, like a pothole, into something a little bit happier and getting people to question the environment they live in and how they can change it," he told the Guardian.
Scare tacticsScare tactics
In India, an anonymous motorist erected a scarecrow in the middle of a pothole along national highway 17 near the south-western city of Kaup. The road is full of holes, some of which are knee deep. Previous appeals to the local authorities had reportedly got nowhere.In India, an anonymous motorist erected a scarecrow in the middle of a pothole along national highway 17 near the south-western city of Kaup. The road is full of holes, some of which are knee deep. Previous appeals to the local authorities had reportedly got nowhere.
Down the rabbit holeDown the rabbit hole
Montreal-based visual artist David Luciano has made a series of artistic photographs featuring potholes in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Toronto. His creations include an image of Alice in Wonderland leaping down a rabbit hole on an urban street, and a priest baptising a baby.Montreal-based visual artist David Luciano has made a series of artistic photographs featuring potholes in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Toronto. His creations include an image of Alice in Wonderland leaping down a rabbit hole on an urban street, and a priest baptising a baby.
Feeling blueFeeling blue
And in Hailsham, East Sussex, a businesswoman lodged a quirky complaint to her local authority when they failed to finish filling all the potholes in her road. Laura Murphy snapped images of toy Smurfs and other figurines relaxing alongside water-filled potholes, then posted them to the director of transport. The result? Contractors turned up the next day to finish the job.And in Hailsham, East Sussex, a businesswoman lodged a quirky complaint to her local authority when they failed to finish filling all the potholes in her road. Laura Murphy snapped images of toy Smurfs and other figurines relaxing alongside water-filled potholes, then posted them to the director of transport. The result? Contractors turned up the next day to finish the job.
Join the conversationJoin the conversation
Who said potholes were boring? More to the point, why are roads apparently so hard to maintain? We want to hear from you. Are potholes a problem in your area? Can you think of any other eye-catching ways to make politicians take notice? Who would you name a pothole after? How else could potholes be put to use?Who said potholes were boring? More to the point, why are roads apparently so hard to maintain? We want to hear from you. Are potholes a problem in your area? Can you think of any other eye-catching ways to make politicians take notice? Who would you name a pothole after? How else could potholes be put to use?
Post your comments in the thread below or add to the debate on Twitter @Gdndevelopment. If you have any problems posting, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@theguardian.com and we'll add your views to the thread.Post your comments in the thread below or add to the debate on Twitter @Gdndevelopment. If you have any problems posting, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@theguardian.com and we'll add your views to the thread.
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