Have traffic lights become a photo hotspot? The “moving little green man” was actually pioneered in Taipei

▲The dynamic little green man pedestrian traffic lights, now seen almost everywhere on Taiwanese streets, were actually first introduced in Taipei. (Photo / from Wikimedia Commons)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Are the traffic lights commonly seen on streets now becoming a new photo spot? The Taipei City Department of Transportation stated that Taipei was the first place in the world to adopt the “moving little green man pedestrian signal” and countdown traffic signals. These have now not only become widespread across Taiwan but are also famous globally. To help the public and foreign tourists understand the story behind the installation of these signals, an explanatory signboard has been set up starting today at the birthplace of the little green man — the intersection of Songzhi Road and Songsou Road — which is also open for visitors to take photos.

In fact, the little green man and little red man with hats were originally designed and launched by a psychologist from East Germany and used in East Berlin’s traffic signals, but they did not move at that time. Later, this type of signal was adopted by the Taipei City Government and in 1998, a countdown function was added, creating the dynamic pedestrian traffic signal. The first dynamic little green man pedestrian signal was born on March 18, 1999, at the intersection of Songzhi Road and Songsou Road, and gradually became widespread across Taiwan. Later, countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and mainland China also introduced them one after another, receiving considerable praise.

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The Taipei City Department of Transportation stated that starting today, bilingual (Chinese and English) explanatory signboards will be installed at the birthplace of the little green man, and a design for people to check in on Facebook will be provided. It is hoped that through the explanatory boards and check-ins, the public and foreign tourists can learn about how the little green man signals are installed and what they represent. The little green man is not only a guardian of pedestrian safety but also a symbol of respect for pedestrians.