In the American city of Syracuse, in the state of New York, there is the only traffic light in the USA, and as far as is known in the world, where the green light is located at the top, while the red light is located at the bottom. This unusual traffic signal is not the result of a technical error, but of the local community’s long-standing insistence on preserving Irish heritage.
Green-yellow-red
Namely, since the beginning of the 20th century, the quarter has been home to a large Irish population, whose cultural influence is still clearly visible today through pubs, shops and other local landmarks. They are joined by this atypical traffic light, whose history dates back to 1925, when the city of Syracuse first installed a standard traffic light in this neighborhood. The local population saw the placement of a red light over a green one as an insult, interpreting it as a symbol of British dominance over Ireland.
Fly’n Brian / YouTube screenshot
Repeated protests followed in the form of breaking the windows on the traffic light, and city officials repeatedly tried to repair the signaling and return it to standard condition, but each new traffic light would soon be destroyed under a rain of stones from local youths. Finally, the city authorities gave in to the persistence of the residents and officially allowed the installation of the “upside-down” traffic light, which has been working smoothly ever since – and today it is an indispensable tourist attraction and a permanent reminder of how local tradition can overcome even strict state traffic rules.