It has been interesting observing
how Germans obey the pedestrian traffic light rules. Most people don’t cross
the street when the red signal is shown, even if there are no cars around. There
is no numbered countdown, so people wait patiently until the red figure turns
green. Once this happens they cross the black pavement, which is free of any
white crosswalk markings.
Countless times I have felt the urge to jaywalk, but
the cultural norm has forced me to resist. Maybe I have been able to stop
myself because I enjoy figuring out which crosswalk figures are being used. It
is very appealing when I notice the Ampelmännchen figurines, which are usually present in East Berlin. The
former West Berlin has a mixture of Ampelmännchen and the boring red and green stick figures.
The crosswalk light itself looks like a domino. The black
rectangular encasement houses the Ampelmännchen, with each having their own
circle to reside in. The red Ampelmann is stacked on top of the green. He has
his arms stretched out forming a “T” with his chest facing you. A hat rests
on his head, and he appears stationary with his legs pressed together. Below
him, the green Ampelmann is turned so that his side is facing you. He is walking to the left, with one leg
in front of the other. Only one arm is visible and it is bent at the elbow. When looking at his face, only a chin
and a nose can be made out. He also sports a hat to compliment his partner in crime. Or shall we say safety?
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