Overview
- The characters were installed and inaugurated on January 13 at two crossings by NDR locations: Hugh-Greene-Weg at Julius-Vosseler-Straße and Rothenbaumchaussee at Oberstraße.
- Ernie appears in green for walk and Bert in red for stop, echoed by the mnemonic "Bei Bert bleibst du stehen, bei Ernie kannst du gehen."
- Sesame Workshop originated the concept to highlight considerate behavior in traffic and to support traffic education for children.
- NDR director general Hendrik Lünenborg framed the signals as a nostalgic reminder of viewers' childhood connection to the show.
- The move extends a wider German trend of themed pedestrian signals seen in cities featuring icons like the Mainzelmännchen, Otto Waalkes and the Petermännchen.