Made2Walk

The African American Museum reminded us of a powerful piece of transportation history that still shapes our streets today.

🚦 Garrett Morgan, born in Kentucky and later working in Cleveland’s textile industry, invented the first mechanical traffic signal after witnessing a serious crash at an intersection. His design introduced a critical innovation: a “Stop” phase that allowed intersections to clear before traffic moved again. A concept that remains central to traffic safety today.

Morgan wasn’t just an inventor of traffic safety. He was also an entrepreneur who opened his own repair shop and clothing factory, founded the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company, and patented multiple inventions (including a de-curling comb) often discovered through hands-on experimentation and problem-solving.

💡 The blueprint in this photo is a reminder that street safety innovations often come from lived experience, observation, and a deep desire to prevent harm, not just from technical manuals.

At , we believe safer streets start with understanding why systems were created, who they were meant to protect, and how they can continue to evolve to center people walking, biking, and rolling.

History matters. Representation matters. And so does designing streets that truly keep people safe.

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