# Syracuse has an upside down traffic light **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633 "2014-03-17T17:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/1 "2014-03-17T17:33:54Z")
… and in other St. Patrick’s day news… ![http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-xlarge2/sqrapw9gsg2js2wcfpwf.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/8/d/8de88ed770316d795abe1040aab6ee5a5bad376c.jpeg) ![http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-xlarge2/v987mwby9hp7iz7wfrhe.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/3/5/35c04c9b4a1111c2df567300a5ae591870a48909.jpeg) > Ken was a “stone thrower.” The story goes that in 1925, exactly 80 years ago, the city put up a new traffic signal with the green light on top, a salute to the Irish requested by city Alderman John “Huckle” Ryan. > The trouble began when city officials reversed that decision and put the green light on the bottom. At that point, Ken and his young friends supposedly got involved, using stones to break the red light every time it went on top. Eventually, city leaders wore down. Tipp Hill received the only traffic light in the nation where the green shines over red. > **[In Syracuse, an Irish lesson for the prime minister: Rocks against red lift...](https://www.syracuse.com/kirst/2005/03/rocks_against_red_lift_green_o.html)** > > The most powerful official in Ireland travels to an iconic traffic signal on Tipperary Hill. > ![http://media.syracuse.com/kirst/photo/9125601-large.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/f/bfcd085e63c78439e9c0c4f998ae7f6bafde2fb9.jpeg) > John Berry/The Post-Standard > The motorcade of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern approached the green-over-red traffic signal on Tipperary Hill. Irish Prime Minister actually visited the light. Who knew. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/2 "2014-03-17T17:54:24Z")
If you blow through it does the cop have to write the ticket upside down? ---
**Author:** ![livin4hockey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/3 "2014-03-17T18:31:49Z")
I remember driving through this a number of times to a watering hole I’d frequent. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/4 "2014-03-18T06:24:06Z")
I wonder what the legalities are of someone red/green color blind (like myself) getting a ticket/worse for not stopping when you are supposed to… ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/5 "2014-03-18T06:27:25Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > > I wonder what the legalities are of someone red/green color blind (like myself) getting a ticket/worse for not stopping when you are supposed to… One of those local things that if it ever gets enough press it will have to be taken down. ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/6 "2014-03-18T06:44:34Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > > I wonder what the legalities are of someone red/green color blind (like myself) getting a ticket/worse for not stopping when you are supposed to… Dont think it would hold up even more so. The light positions are still the same, and you can see which lights are lit up. My dad is also color blind. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/7 "2014-03-18T07:02:03Z")
> [@Onyx Z32"](#): > > ![http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-xlarge2/sqrapw9gsg2js2wcfpwf.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/8/d/8de88ed770316d795abe1040aab6ee5a5bad376c.jpeg) > [@ProgRocker](#): > > Dont think it would hold up even more so. The light positions are still the same, and you can see which lights are lit up. My dad is also color blind. Uh, normally this is one of those times when I would say, “ENGLISH MOTHER FUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!” but you don’t even need english to see that the light position isn’t the same. That was the whole point, they changed the light position because if you’re dumb enough Irish it’s better to have green on top of a safety device. ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/8 "2014-03-18T07:06:24Z")
This is where my family is from. We settled in Tip Hill after immigrating to America from Tipperary in Ireland. Blame my ancestors for that light. ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/9 "2014-03-18T07:06:42Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Uh, normally this is one of those times when I would say, “ENGLISH MOTHER FUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!” but you don’t even need english to see that the light position isn’t the same. That was the whole point, they changed the light position because if you’re dumb enough Irish it’s better to have green on top of a safety device. Right, What I meant was the “GO” light is still on the bottom, it’s just different colors. Same with the “Stop” (obviously). Maybe what I said wasn’t portrayed that way. ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/10 "2014-03-18T07:09:54Z")
Red still means stop. I am not really sure what you are getting at, are you saying that red means go and green means stop? ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/11 "2014-03-18T07:14:59Z")
:rofl what a winner. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/12 "2014-03-18T07:15:02Z")
Are we reading the same story? Green is on the top of this light in Syracuse. Every other traffic light in the country has green on the bottom. Color blind people can’t see red and green so they rely on the rule that the top light being lit up means stop and the bottom light being lit up means go. They can see a light is on but just can’t tell what color it is. This isn’t some, “oh, what are the odds it could ever be a problem” thing either. 7-10% of the male population have red/green color blindness. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/13 "2014-03-18T07:44:21Z")
Colors how do they work… ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/14 "2014-03-18T07:59:29Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Are we reading the same story? > > Green is on the top of this light in Syracuse. Every other traffic light in the country has green on the bottom. > > Color blind people can’t see red and green so they rely on the rule that the top light being lit up means stop and the bottom light being lit up means go. They can see a light is on but just can’t tell what color it is. > > This isn’t some, “oh, what are the odds it could ever be a problem” thing either. 7-10% of the male population have red/green color blindness. Sorry I read the blurb in the OP and not the article. I see the problem now. I thought originally the light poistions were the same, meaning Stop was still at the top, Go was still at the bottom. What they did, I see it now. My bad, what a dolt. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/15 "2014-03-18T08:00:34Z")
LMAO! Would read again. “Green go, red no!” ---
**Author:** ![Paulo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/paulo/32/7328_2.png) [@Paulo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paulo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/16 "2014-03-18T08:18:46Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Are we reading the same story? > > Green is on the top of this light in Syracuse. Every other traffic light in the country has green on the bottom. A lot of other places in the country mount traffic lights horizontally. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/17 "2014-03-18T08:40:28Z")
full disclosure I can totally tell the difference between red/green on a traffic signal, I’m just arguing a point. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/18 "2014-03-18T08:55:38Z")
Red is always left on horizontal lights. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/19 "2014-03-18T09:48:24Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > Red is always left on horizontal lights. Except maybe in Syracuse where some dumb fucking Irishman thought putting green on the left would be a nice tribute to the Irish. ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633/20 "2014-03-18T10:03:06Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > Red is always left on horizontal lights. What if you’re dyslexic? [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/syracuse-has-an-upside-down-traffic-light/268633.md?page=2)