Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Love Paris? Unlock it!


 This post is part of the Paris in July blogging event. I’m delighted to be co-hosting this year! Please check out the blogs of Karen at “A Wondering Life” and Tamara at “Thyme for Tea,” creators of the event, for links to all participating posts.

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you will probably remember that I’ve written about this subject before. But after a recent walk over the Pont des Arts, one of the once beautiful bridges spanning the Seine, I realize that the issue is worth more than one simple post.
My gripe: The “love locks” that are unlovingly hurting our city’s bridges. Here’s a look at the Pont des Arts. I wonder if many people would see beauty in this? (The trash can almost looks better than the bridge.)


The “No Love Locks” organization/campaign has been fighting for a ban on the locks and even presented a plan of action to city hall recently. But so far, no dice.
I ask myself why city hall doesn’t crack down on the sellers of the padlocks. As you can see in the photo below, they stand right on the bridges selling locks to eager tourists. I can’t imagine tourists refusing to visit Paris if the city banned love locks.

When the trend started a few years ago, there were only a few locks on the bridges and it wasn’t unsightly – so I can understand how some people might have gotten caught up in the excitement. Today, I ask myself why tourists seem so thrilled about putting a lock on the bridge when they clearly see how grotesque it’s become.
I’ve signed the petition against this travesty that has harmed and disfigured our bridges and I know that many of you have as well. For those of you who would like to sign, please click here.
And for more information about the fight to ban love locks, visit the No Love Locks page. 


17 comments:

  1. It is strange that they don't ban it. I've seen them chase after men selling little Eiffel Towers. Why can't they stop them selling locks. Even when the fad began, my husband and I weren't tempted to add a lock to the bridge. After all, locks rust.

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    1. Yes, I think stopping the sales of the locks would help a great deal. I'm hoping that the No Love Locks movement will gain enough of a following so that they can help halt this terrible trend...

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  2. We have a park in our local area that has the same thing going on. At the moment it's just a few dotted around celebrating births and marriages (& weirdly Michael Jackson's death). It seems quite a bizarre thing to do to me...and your photos show how it can get out of control!

    Who knew there were some many padlocks out there...and people who can engrave them!

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    1. It is indeed a bizarre thing to do... and in the end is so ugly! I wish some people would start thinking more about the environment and the importance of maintaining historic sites and less about themselves!

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  3. A vivid example of the phrase 'too much of a good thing'. They do look tacky with so many of them.

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    1. Exactly! When there were a few, no one really noticed... now, it has become an eyesore and a danger to our historical bridges.

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  4. Perhaps this is one time when the dreaded 'Health and Safety' police could get involved. That weight must risk deforming some element of the bridge's structure. Non?

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    1. One section that was overloaded with locks actually collapsed recently. I wonder what it will take for authorities to get moving on this problem...

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  5. Poor Paris: so overcrowded with locals and with tourists that a sentimental gesture like this gets to be a public nuisance! From what I read in the papers there are lots worse things going on there as well. The decline of restaurant cooking (see Mark Bittman's column today), the race riots (if you don't mind my calling them that) and so on.

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    1. Yes, there are many issues here that most tourists don't see (The same for us when we go elsewhere: We don't necessarily see all of the problems.). I hope the city and country will eventually take action on some of these problems...

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  6. You're right that the root of the problem is with the people selling them to tourists. I think a lot of locals are over the trend and most tourists won't just happen to have a lock handy. So if you can eliminate the people selling them right next to the bridge, then there would be few enough locks that the city crews that remove them could stay on top of it. And Paulita's right - if they're going to hunt down people selling Eiffel Towers without a permit they should hunt these people down as well. Additionally, I think they should put up signs that explain the downsides of the locks (eyesore, environmental concerns, danger of bridge collapsing, etc.) - maybe that would get people to stop! Heck, even an interactive kiosk showing video footage of that part of the bridge that collapsed. I'm sure people don't really realize how serious it is.

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    1. Those are exactly the good, common sense measures that should be taken. Why oh why can't city hall think like us? I agree: Most tourists just need a bit of information and fewer locks readily available!

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  7. Adria, this is a really important message. My partner and I couldn't believe this when we first saw it in Paris. He's a building designer and worries immensely about the way the locks placed unnecessary pressure on the bridge, and impacted on the look of the bridge. I was distressed by the idea that all those people were theoretically happy to be 'locked' in their relationships despite the potential for relationships to break up.... (I know this is a sad perspective but I've worked too long with people). I think there are similar messages for tourists to think about visiting the world over. Here in Australia, some of our beautiful natural heritage, like Ayres Rock, have been closed to visitors becuase we could protect them. Thanks for bringing this important message to us in Paris in July.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Tamara. I agree with you. I think people should start thinking beyond their own personal preoccupations when they visit a place. Travel should be about exploring, learning, admiring -- not "leaving your mark" on a destination. Bravo to Australia for protecting its natural sites!

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  8. The last time I was in Paris was in 2001, and I never have seen the locks on the bridge(s) other than in photos. At first it seemed a quaint idea, but now I completely understand your point of view. There is a point where a good idea can go totally wrong, and this seems to be a perfect example. Plus, as Tamara implied, "Do you want to be in the relationship you're in forever?" Not unless it's to a spouse, I'd imagine.

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    1. Even a couple of years ago, there were only a few locks... It seemed to get out of control in a short period of time! And I agree: When I first saw a few locks on the bridges, I didn't think it was a problem, but now that it has become so popular...

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  9. great to speak out !
    change comes when voices are raised and eventually will be heard...
    well done, Adria.

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