Mixed reaction to ‘love locks’
Inspired by examples of “love locks” fixed on building gates and bridges around the world, Thai couples have followed the trend by placing their own unbreakable love locks in Bangkok.
Internet user Mor_Maew noticed a few padlocks fixed to a city bridge; each one had the name of a couple on it, and posted a message to show netizens.
The locks, dangling over the Chao Phraya River, quickly garnered attention as Bangkok’s version of the famous Pont des Arts in Paris and Seoul’s N Tower.
Mor_Maew thought the locks were at Krungthep Bridge, but another user said they were at the King Rama I Memorial Bridge, which connects Phra Nakhon and Bangkok Yai district.
While love locks grow in popularity across the world, municipal authorities are quick to treat them as litter or vandalism.
Officials in Paris regularly express concerns about the growing number of locks, fearing they could damage the railings of the bridge. The Pont des Arts is part of the riverfront Unesco World Heritage site in Paris.
Several campaigns to remove the locks have been launched. Last year, two Americans living in Paris started a petition titled “No love locks — free our love, save our bridges”.
Concerned about the damage caused to the bridge and the environmental consequences on the Seine River, they set out to educate tourists and demand City Hall removes and bans love locks. Shortly after being elected, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, promised to find an alternative location for love locks in the city.
Thai netizens are also worried about what changes the love locks could bring to cityscape here and they hope the popularity of the locks doesn’t soar on the bridges of Bangkok.