Brooklyn Bridge
New York, USA
Bridges around the world are symbolic of a variety of different reasons. The Brooklyn Bridge is no different in this area. It was built between the years of 1869 and 1883 to connect two of the state’s most popular boroughs, Brooklyn and Manhattan. This bridge is also considered to be one of the most recognized landmarks in New York. Love locks attached to the Brooklyn Bridge have made this even more of a unique place for tourists to visit.
During the years of construction, Brooklyn went from being an independent city to an important part of the distinct boroughs that make up New York. The inauguration of the bridge brought 150K people across on its first day. Today, millions of cars and other vehicles utilize it on a daily basis. Since this is one of the world’s famous destinations, tourists from every continent journey here to see the sights and sound of New York. Love locks which have become a staple, literally and figuratively are nearly as popular.
Many see attaching a padlock onto the bridge as a symbol of love. This activity has been associated with how couples used to carve their initials inside of a heart on trees. Along with Brooklyn, other cities have experienced this phenomenon. They can also be seen on bridges in Paris and Rome, as well. Although the attaching of a padlock onto these landmarks is illegal, couples still brave breaking the law to participate. There are good reasons why cities want to prevent Love locks.
In 2016, New York began posting signs to prevent couples from putting these locks on the bridge. There is a $100 fine for those caught doing this by law enforcement. One of the reasons for addressing this issues is to protect the bridge itself. Everyone is in favor of an act of love by those inspired to visit this attraction. City officials, however, want this 135+-year-old bridge to last for many years to come.
The sheer weight that the locks add to the bridge is a problem. It actually serves to cause damage to the infrastructure itself. The intricate process of removing these locks is another concern. This may also result in some sort of damage to the functionality of the bridge, as well as, its visible appeal. Regular maintenance costs for these bridges may be seriously impacted because of removal activities. Other cities have seen fencing and other portions of their bridges collapse due to
The safety consideration is another reason that cities are trying to prevent this activity. Many couples will try to avoid detection by finding creative ways to attach locks. This may involve doing so late at night or during the early morning hours. Either of these options could put individuals in danger of falls and other injuries. There have been those who chose to climb fencing and barriers to attach their locks. This is another safety concern.
Couples wanting to declare their love may end up getting rescuers in danger. Incidences, where accidents occur, do require the assistance of first responders. Not only does this take time away from other types of calls, but police officers and ambulance personnel also have to respond when called. For these reasons, officials have encouraged tourists and residents to pursue other ways for couples to find symbolism.
According to the Wall Street Journal, New York removed 34+K locks from the bridge between the years of 2013 and 2016. The cost at that time for this activity annually was $116K. There is a significant maintenance orchestration required to remove these locks. Couples traditionally discard of the key as a part of the show of love. This means that each lock has to be cut in order for it to be removed. Along with workers in this city, there are maintenance workers in other cities doing the same thing.
Pedestrian lanes, usually utilized by tourists and residents have to be shut down during this process. There is an expense associated with this, as well for the city. Dipping into these budgets generally has an impact on other areas and operations. There is a lot to see and do for newlyweds and couples traveling to this destination. There are also terrific ways to show their love as they visit this bridge instead of attaching locks.
Many city tourists and visitors want to not only see the bridge on their trips to New York. They also want to walk across it and experience a bit of history. You can’t miss the thousands of Love locks that get attached to the bridge yearly. The cost associated with removing these loving symbols is growing each year. Along with affecting the budgets of other activities in this city, it can put people at risk. Although this is a trendy thing for couples to participate in, getting caught can be costly.