Baltimore is calling on residents to report potholes around the city, and draw attention to the effort by posting creative and amusing images of the potholes they find.
The city on Tuesday launched its Capture the Pothole Challenge to get Baltimoreans involved with reporting “pesky potholes” by calling 311, filing an online service request for repair, or submitting a service request through the Android or iOs app.
“With my new ‘Capture the Pothole Challenge’, I encourage all residents to report potholes to 311 so that together we can improve city roadways,” Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement. “Not only is this a fun initiative where residents can show their creative sides, but it’s a great way that the public can help us to maintain city streets in neighborhoods throughout the city.”
Potholes are typically addressed within 48 hours of being reported to 311, and emergency situations are addressed immediately, city officials said.
When they find a pothole, residents are encouraged to take a photo and transform it into a fun image to then post to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #checkoutmypothole.
Participants can submit one entry per day now through May 30. The city will then select “the most creative/amusing pothole image” and invite the creator to fill potholes with Scott.
The city will announce the winner on or about June 1.
Participants must post their creative pothole image to their social media feed, story or a direct message to DOT, with the hashtag #checkoutmypothole. They must also follow DOT on social media and tag DOT and at least one friend.
Each day that they participate, they will be entered into the drawing. Participants must post their image by 5 p.m. to qualify for that day.
DOT will like or reply to the participant’s story, comment or direct message to confirm that the entry was submitted.
DOT Director Steve Sharkey said the city needs residents’ help to locate and report potholes around Baltimore.
“The Department of Transportation works throughout the city each day to service streets on a proactive basis, but we also rely on the public’s help to report any issues that arise,” Sharkey said in a statement. “We encourage all residents to participate in this fun challenge so that our work together will provide better roadways for Baltimore neighborhoods.”
In its announcement of the Pothole Challenge, DOT included its own example of a submission: two Chessie paddle boats from the Inner Harbor floating in a water-filled pothole.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Department of Transportation Director Steve Sharkey Launch the ‘Capture the Pothole Challenge’. This challenge is a fun way for residents to photograph potholes for repair while helping to improve City streets. For more v… https://t.co/NYznRPs6z4
— Baltimore City DOT (@BmoreCityDOT) May 4, 2021
The transportation department also tweeted a scene of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker battling in a pothole far, far away as an homage to Star Wars Day, which is May 4.
“Luke, I am calling 311,” the post reads.
Happy #StarWarsDay! Today we are challenging residents and local artists to be creative while helping us report potholes. With that in mind, here is a pothole we found. Let’s see who can beat us. May the 4th be with you. “Luke, I am calling 311″… #Checkoutmypothole pic.twitter.com/1HSLaIapNi
— Baltimore City DOT (@BmoreCityDOT) May 4, 2021
And on Instagram, DOT posted a pothole featuring rapper Drake and dialogue bubbles inspired by his song “Hotline Bling.”
View this post on Instagram
Juliet Ames, who gave makeovers to many of the city’s salt boxes over the past several months, tried to rope in Mr. Trash Wheel, Baltimore’s first trash-eating water wheel, to assist with pothole-reporting efforts.
My friends at @bmorecitydot need your help finding potholes to fill! They’re encouraging residents to report potholes using the 311 app. I propose that we get @mrtrashwheel involved in the efforts! 311 claim #21-00316768 #checkoutmypothole https://t.co/bXZBsjK4PO pic.twitter.com/jOrTUcYOlh
— Juliet Ames (@thebrokenplate) May 4, 2021
Ames also tweeted a Pokémon Go-style photo of a pothole ready to be caught in a Poké Ball, which characters use to collect fictional species in the Japanese media franchise Pokémon.
“Gotta catch them all!!” Ames wrote.
Gotta catch them all!! 311 claim #21-00316768 #checkoutmypothole#PokemonGo #baltimore pic.twitter.com/tgU94DYA65
— Juliet Ames (@thebrokenplate) May 4, 2021
Burck Smith tweeted an image of a pothole in northern Baltimore that desperately needs to be filled as a tentacled creature emerges from its depths.
St. Dunstans & Springlake 21212 #checkoutmypothole pic.twitter.com/VnSo6nWjSE
— Burck (@burck) May 4, 2021
