The Mainzelmännchen traffic lights in Mainz are a special attraction and a tribute to the famous ZDF characters. The idea was born in 2013 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ZDF, when the Mainzelmännchen were made honorary citizens of the city. The first Mainzelmännchen traffic light was inaugurated on November 23, 2016 at Neubrunnenplatz.
The traffic lights show the Mainzelmännchen Det in the typical red and green phases to regulate pedestrian traffic. These unique traffic lights were developed together with Siemens to meet the requirements of the road traffic regulations and at the same time depict the iconic Mainzelmännchen characters.
There are now several of these traffic lights in the city of Mainz, including in the Lerchen district, where the ZDF is based, and at other busy intersections such as Rheinstrasse.
The Mainzelmännchen, created in 1963 by graphic artist Wolf Gerlach, are an integral part of Mainz culture and represent the city in a charming way. These traffic lights are not only functional, but also a humorous eye-catcher and are very popular with locals and tourists alike.