Paris Bans Love Locks

While I was walking the Cliff Walk in Newport a couple of weeks ago, I noticed some locks fastened to a fence overlooking the water. Someone called the show and informed me that they were a rage in Europe called Love Locks. I also found out that these love locks are becoming a real problem in Paris, including on the Pont des Arts bridge. Parisian officials have announced that they will be removing the locks and restoring the bridge.

Couples have been placing locks on the bridge as a symbol of unconditional love since 2008. In the last 5 years, the bridge has accumulated hundreds of thousands of locks, putting a strain on the historic bridge.

A 2006 Italian young adult-novel-turned-filmed started the romanticized practice in Rome and it quickly moved to the City of Love. Rome since banned the practice and Paris is soon to follow suit.

The city has been discouraging the addition of love locks for over a year, by boarding up the bridge in February to eliminate visitors placing locks for Valentines Day and encouraging couples to simply take selfies on the bridge instead.

The lock removal process begins today.

Contributor: Mariah Terry