Feet First Philly’s “Where’s my effin’ sidewalk?” photo contest has come to an end, and the winners have been chosen!  Below are the photos that won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  The photos were judged based on the strength of the statement they made about sidewalk encroachments–things that get in the way of pedestrians’ regular use of the sidewalk.  Each one of the photos below exemplifies an issue that pedestrians regularly face in Philadelphia.

Most sidewalk encroachments are preventable, and some of them are illegal.  We need your help to bring attention to these when they arise.  If you come across something you think is a code violation, like a construction site that blocks the sidewalk but does not provide adequate signage, report it to Philly 311 by using the mobile app or by going to this website and submitting a request to have the problem fixed.  This is one way that you can help to keep Philadelphia walkable.

Congratulations to the contest winners!  The winning photos appear below.

1st place: Photo #18 (Lauren Wolf)

Flooding has become such a regular occurrence at the intersection of Locust and Hutchinson that the graffiti on the sidewalk reads “No Diving.”

2nd place: Photo #31 (Kristen Albee)

Because the construction project at South and Kater streets has blocked off the parking lane in addition to the sidewalk, this pedestrian is forced to walk where cars and bikes travel.

3rd place: Photo #42 (Grace Wang)

At a construction site on Arch Street between 19th and 20th, cars are parked on the sidewalk behind a  ”Sidewalk Closed” sign, forcing pedestrians to cross mid-block.