Can This Really Be True?
 

Fodor's has a picture in its Top 15 Destinations for Europe of One of the grotesque vandalized bridges of Paris with all the cheap locks? It features prominently - the first pic when you sign in. Disgusting! It's under "Editor's Pick." Even more horrible. What the hell are they thinking?

StCirq, this might help you understand the locks: http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/pa...that-wont-die/

I think StCirq understands. The points is that it just vandalizes a beautiful bridge. I agree with StCirq.

I don't want to "understand" the locks. Sorry. It's vandalism, IMO, and grotesque.

I totally agree StCirq. I think it is hideous and appalling.

What if you have dreadlocks or bagels and lox?

It would be frightening if people over the age of 15 do this. We should be grateful Fodor's doesn't put father/daughter abstinence dances in their American books.

Locks are no better than tagging, probably more destructive to the structure.

It's a very dangerous "fashion", not only for the idiots who are now climbing down onto the lower levels, or up higher to attach the vile locks, but also because the locks rust and are causing serious issues with the actual structure of the bridge(s) . It's much more serious than tagging.

St Cirq, a blogger, Lisa Taylor Huff, has just started a project with another blogger called NO LOVE LOCKS, to quote

"in order to find ways to educate those who might be tempted to put a lock on these bridges, and to partner with the city of Paris to support any efforts to remove the locks, repair the bridges, restore the views and find better ways to help people make special memories in our city."

All power to her, I say. Apparently the idea of attaching a lock is even mentioned in the ubiquitous Rick Steve's guidebook to Paris - and not in a negative way! Ugh!

It's spreading all over the place. I've seen them in Chester and I'm sure they have arrived in other UK cities

Italy (Cinque Terra), Spain (Salamanca), San Juan,Puerto Rico and I'm sure elsewhere..Not a great idea at all!!!

Agree - all those locks are a blight on the cityscape - and should be removed - for safety reasons if nothing else. How is this different from grafitti?

The locks a bit yukky but if the French wanted to remove them they would have done so by now I suppose. Who is Lisa Taylor Huff? The Queen of Paris or something?

I'm not sure what there would be to understand the "locks" as said before simply vandalism. Fodor comes at travel from a different perspective that many of us and I have seen so many of their tour books absolutely using scare tactics about crime in certain cities...if I took Fodor serious I would never go anywhere. In many of their books for a country they leave off some of the best areas...if Americans are not the primary tourists in an area Fodor does not include it. Guess they make money and I'm sure even more tourists will flock to the locks after seeing this.

This seems to occur all over the world.

Do a search for "List of locations with love locks" and you will be surprised with how many there are, including the Brooklyn Bridge.

Do a search for "List of locations with love locks" and you will be surprised with how many there are, including the Brooklyn Bridge.

I am moving out of the City.

Thanks for posting this - we saw them in Berlin too and I hate them more with every city.
Think of all those keys rusting in the river bottoms...

Wow, I had never considered what a serious problem this could be. We saw them at a ferry landing on Lake Como. But I'm still inclined to think that considering all the trouble "yewts" could get up to, perhaps this one is not so bad?!

While we are at it any chance of taking away the plastic boxes that people insist on playing with in restaurants?

I saw them in Wroclaw (Poland) and recently the Showtime series "Homeland" showed lovers' locks on a fence. I'm sure lots of people will be inspired by that and locks will start showing up all over, even when there is no bridge.

The things are stuck on the railings around Lecce ampitheatre, the town hall go out and bolt-crop them off each year.