Last but not least: striking arguments
In many countries, potholes are a social nuisance and pose a danger. Creativity can help. And penises.
In Switzerland, we are spoiled: if there is a hairline crack in the road tar, an armada of road builders arrives the next day. In most cases, they even renew the road in anticipatory obedience - after all, there's always something to do. The advantage of this is that our roads are, on the whole, in immaculate condition. The disadvantage: construction sites as far as the eye can see. True to the motto: an end is always a beginning.
Other countries can only dream of such luxury problems. Pothole after pothole forms in the streets - and the authorities usually lack the time, money, motivation or competence to repair the damage. So citizens have to fight back themselves.
In 2012, in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, the Voskhod agency painted the responsible politicians around the potholes in the night and fog (Casemovie). Result: Holes repaired, Clio won.
In 2009, the fast-food chain KFC took the problem into its own hands in the U.S.: In five cities, potholes were repaired on a large scale - and given the "Re-Freshed by KFC" seal.
A group of creative lithographers - called Z999 - produced last year a Photo gallery around potholes and caused a national sensation.
In the spring of 2015, a Siberian artist attracted the long-overdue attention of the mayor of Novosibirsk through the use of lightly clad models. Road condition: moderate.
In England, however, an anonymous artist from Manchester has now found a way to get rid of the annoying holes with far less effort. He was prompted to take action after cyclists from his area repeatedly had accidents as a result of the road damage. Under the pseudonym "Wanksy" - in reference to the legendary street artist Banksy - he sprayed male genitals around the damaged pavement using washable paint.
The genitals apparently draw attention to the damage so efficiently that it is repaired within 48 hours in a normal case. Says Wanksy - and proves the repairs with photos. The city of Manchester, on the other hand denies the context to the BBC, calls the "vandalism" "counterproductive" and refers to the children who could be harmed by the drawings. Unlike falling cyclists, however, the children are likely to survive the scribbles. (hae)
