At pedestrian crossings throughout Mainz, the standard traffic light figures have been replaced by the Mainzelmännchen — a set of cartoon dwarfs who have been associated with the ZDF television broadcaster since 1963. The little figures appear in different poses depending on whether you should stop or cross, and their cheerful presence has made Mainz's traffic lights something of a tourist curiosity.
The figures were created by the animation studio Wolf Gerlach for ZDF, which is headquartered in Mainz, as brief comedy spots to fill time between programmes. They became among the best-known characters in German television history. The traffic light version is worth pausing at, particularly with children, though you may find yourself waiting longer than strictly necessary to watch the little figure change.