PETALING JAYA: Red. Yellow. Green. That's how we are taught to identify traffic lights from top to bottom and understand the significance of each colour.
This knowledge is taught not only in Malaysia but also to almost everyone worldwide living in areas with roads, traffic, and pedestrians.
Having said that, is it true that there is a functioning upside-down traffic light somewhere in the world?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Yes, there is one. Dubbed the world’s only upside-down traffic light, it is found in the Tippery Hill neighbourhood of Syracuse, New York.
But how did this traffic light come to be in this Irish-majority immigrant town?
To get the answer, we must go back in time to 1925.
In 1925, a traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Tompkins Street and Milton Avenue to manage the growing population and traffic.
However, the traditional red light placement above the green symbolised British superiority, leading to repeated vandalism by Irish settlers who kept throwing rocks at the red light.
A local alderman in the community, John "Huckle" Ryan, proposed reversing the lights, which worked until New York State mandated a return to the original set-up. This decision, unfortunately, intensified the vandalism.
On March 17, 1928, a meeting between local residents and city officials led to a final change. The residents insisted the vandalism would continue if the light configuration remained unchanged.
The city officials then agreed to reverse the lights permanently, with green at the top, yellow in the middle, and red at the bottom, a setup that persists today.
This unique traffic signal stands as a testament to the enduring Irish pride in Syracuse.
So, if you see a traffic light and wonder if there's a unique one somewhere in the world, you now know such a one exists.
SOURCES
https://uncoveringnewyork.com/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
