Where in the U.S. is the only legal traffic light where the red light is on the bottom and the green light is on the top?
Syracuse is famous for its anomalous traffic light. The light displays green above red! How could such a bizarre thing happen?
Legend tells us that citizens of the area were highly proud of their Irish origin and couldn't stand the fact that British red was above Irish green. They repeatedly broke the lights and through vandalism, achieved their purpose. The traffic light was eventually installed upside-down, with green above red.
More Info:
nowiknow.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
129 Comments
Douglas Germond
Wow, that's pretty cool!! I never would have thought that such a light existed here in the U.S.
Doreen Killoran
Colemans Irish Pub! Awesome at St Patrick's day & the best Irish food in Syracuse NY. ;)
Paul Sink
The only one in the US,but not that strange?
James Murphy
That's okay if you are local and know about this, but these traffic lights could cause some nasty accidents. 8% of males and 0.5% of females suffer from red/green colour blindness! It would be interesting to find out how many accidents have occurred at this junction.
Tammy
Interesting they won over repeated vandalism. But kind of cool they have one. Hopefully they have a sign for color blind persons upon entering the town that they do have one. Common courtesy and avoiding unnecessary traffic accidents.
Don Markusic
Douglas Germond,
Dealing with the Irish you're come to expect anything . Imagine if they were drunk when they pass at law, all 3 lights would be green .
Maggie
This was a great question, interesting and fun! Great!
Mary Clinton
I lived there over 60 years and the food and drink at Coleman’s were the best food in Syracuse!, The light is fascinating to see! Doreen Killoran,
Shawn Davlin
50 years ago, the city of Scott, Louisiana, had one stoplight in this tiny town, it was upside down. My dad drove through it and got a ticket for running the red light. He went to court and had evidence that he was red-green color blind and could not tell the difference. Didn't help, he got fined $20. Don't know if it is still there or not. Haven't been back since then.
jfhubel
Where the light hangs is not a very busy intersection and is used mostly by locals.
marijohnross
Interesting. I learned something.
earlepg
Three very famous cities and one that wasn't. Of course, I'm going to choose the outlier. If there is only one in the city, it must cause some problems at times.
daproske
Lucky guess, will never forget this one!
Annie
A feud over a color is not bizarre in Oklahoma football you either wear Red for OU or Orange for OSU - no one that went to either school during the season would ever cross the color line!
b rozeebud
crap i was going to say D.C.
Boni Forte
Missed it
littlemo
Tipperary Hill...
kayefloyd
Ok I live here in South Carolina some people don't know what a red light means top or bottom
jack patti go
Missed it!