Fun with Maps ISSUE 2025-122

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 5, 2025) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps, we take a look at traffic control: it’s a stop-n-go idea.    

Stop and Go

The idea and need to control traffic flow is not new. 

First police officers controlled traffic at intersections by hand signals.  Then came traffic lights – first powered by gas in London in 1882.  Then electricity-based traffic lights emerged – the first being, surprisingly, in Cleveland, going on-line on August 5, 1914.

Usually, the color code is red, yellow and green.  However, in some places, only red and green lights were used for a period, including Hungary in the 1960s.  Yellow caution light was replaced by both red and green being illuminated at the same time.  The two light idea didn’t last.

There are places where traffic lights are not used much, and the mad chaos ensuing seems to work – some cities in India are examples.

Then there is a place like Manila.  Red seems to mean ‘go’ more often than ‘green’.  Just close your eyes.

Suchy’s 1937 map shows Cleveland as it was in 1837.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.