Today marks the start of the removal of love locks from Le Pont des Arts. Tourists have attached padlocks to the bridge with messages of love since around 2008.
Once considered a charming practice, the sheer number of locks and the weight of these began to pose issues for the bridge. According to the Paris City Council the love locks caused problems such as the “degradation of property heritage and a risk to the safety of visitors, Parisians and tourists”.
Paris is now encouraging selfies on the bridge instead of padlocks, so it’s #lovewithoutlocks from this point on.
Megan In Sainte Maxime 
It’s too bad they couldn’t just remove some locks periodically. I’d rather see that happen than see a bunch of tourists with selfie sticks.
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Didn’t the weight of the locks pull the bridge partially down?
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Hi Daisy – Yes a piece fell off – I don’t think it caused too much damage but it definitely strengthened the argument of those against the locks. Apparently the weight of all the locks was equivalent to 20 elephants!
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Hi Poodle – I think it’s too late re selfie sticks! Losing battle on that one. Although apparently they’re being banned in some art galleries in Paris.
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They did remove them but that has a cost. Tourists already have selfie sticks soooo
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