While the simple act of attaching a lock to a bridge may seem like such a small, innocent thing, when thousands of people are doing it, the impact is neither small nor innocent. What we hope to accomplish through our public awareness campaign is to create a shift of perspective… a change of heart, if you will. We hope people will find other, better (and less destructive) ways to express their affection and commemorate special moments in their lives.
And it seems to be working! Reactions to NO LOVE LOCKS™ have been overwhelmingly positive! Here are just some of the many comments we have received since launching our project in January 2014.
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It’s not only Parisians who deplore the presence of the locks. And it’s not just Paris which is trying to combat this problem.
“I’m not a Parisian, but I love Paris and want nothing but the best for the city. I admit, at first I thought the locks were a sweet gesture, but then they became overwhelming and a distraction and finally destructive. Now I feel as you do – they have to stop. I even saw them on the hiking trails in the Cinqe Terre! [In Italy] Ugh!”
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It seemed like a sweet idea at the time. Now she’s had a change of heart.
“I could weep with regret and guilt and despair that I’ve contributed to this hideous sight / problem / destruction of a bridge that is sacred to Paris (and moi). Yes, it did seem romantic in 2009 or so, when my now-hubby and I put up a lock (my blog has a photo or two similar to the one here showing ‘just a few’ back then). Even then I was torn — visual clutter/pollution vs. romance. We meant to opt for romance and even encouraged our friends to put up a lock. Now it seems naive and so misguided to me. Last year one of the wire ‘panels’ was so destroyed there was a piece of wood/plasterboard (?) in its place. Things change … I wish the practice had never started and that I’d never done it.”
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The padlocks of love http://t.co/lNx1PJQmrt on Paris bridges should stop! Sign the @NoLoveLocks petition if you agree pic.twitter.com/sL7TwmNwHL
— Colleen’s Paris (@colleensparis) March 18, 2014
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Even on the Great Wall of China? That just seems so wrong.
“I HATE the padlocks! I first saw them some years ago in China on the Great Wall and was aghast…when I later saw them in Paris, I was horrified to see that marvelous view defiled.”
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After we spoke to a British couple on the Pont des Arts about NO LOVE LOCKS™ and told them about all the negatives (just before they put their lock on the bridge), they had THIS reaction… and decided NOT to do it!
“We hadn’t thought of it as vandalism, or polluting the river… and the idea that the extra weight is making this bridge unsafe is really scary! We just never thought of it that way before.”
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The Parisians want love to be free… not locked up in “jail”.
“Tant de geôliers de l’amour ! Effrayant !” (Too bad for the jailers of love! It’s appalling!)
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If the information on our web site has helped YOU to have a change of heart about putting a lock on a bridge or another public space, get in touch (or leave a comment below) and tell us your story! And help us spread the word and pay it forward, by following us on Twitter or Facebook and sharing our message.
NO LOVE LOCKS™ 
The whole point of this is its a racket to extract money from tourists.The locks cost less then a euro in china and sell for 5 euros each. If the sellers move 100 a day its a nice little business on the black market. Its just another way to milk them whole they are in paris. Cafe’s have been doing the same thing for over 150 years. Its all about vanity.